The glass-fronted property will be built on stilts, at the base of a glacier / Photo: Snøhetta_Plompmozes_Miris
Immersed in the Norwegian wilderness, the world’s first energy-positive hotel and spa – Svart – will open in 2024 as a Six Senses resort, following the signing of an agreement between the operator and the hotel’s owner, Svart Eiendom AS.
The circular glass-fronted property will be built on stilts and hover above the clear waters of the Holandsfjorden, at the base of the Svartisen glacier. The word Svart means black and blue in old Norse – a reference to the way the light plays on the glacier through the long Arctic winters and summers.
Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, with interiors overseen by Space Copenhagen, the aim is for Svart to be fully carbon-positive, including zero waste to landfill within the first five years of operation. The team is also working to ensure the 94-room hotel is built with a minimal environmental footprint.
Six Senses has earned a reputation as one of the most sustainably-minded hospitality brands on the market, thanks to its dedication to integrating sustainability throughout its operation – including its spa operations.
Wellness is ingrained deep within Six Senses’ philosophy and the brand has plans to ensure wellness will be the beating heart of the destination.
“Building a unique environment through cutting-edge design and superior craftsmanship comes with clear obligations, so creating a sustainable destination through an optimised resort operation requires us to collaborate with the right partner,” said Ivaylo Lefterov, Svart development director.
“Six Senses shares the same ethos and ambition, to redefine bespoke travel through technological innovation, a carbon-neutral approach, ground-breaking design and an exceptional guest journey.”
Integrative wellness In line with the nature-first ethos behind the property, Six Senses Svart will house an indoor-outdoor spa, which will allow guests to soak up the benefits of the stunning backdrop. The spa was originally designed by consultant Felicity Leahy, and is now being fine-tuned in line with Six Senses’ approach.
Wellness at the property will extend beyond the walls of the spa and fitness centre to become an integrated experience. Svart plans to cover the ‘full gambit’ of integrated wellness, from compression boots and vitamin IVs in the biohacking lounge, to all-round wellness in the sensory treatment suites.
Guests will also enjoy state-of-the-art fitness equipment and wearable tech integration, including a specially-developed Svart Touch wellness concierge concept that Six Senses says will “further elevate the brand’s wellness approach”.
The new technology will be integrated into each guest room and delivered via non-invasive touchless consoles. It’s claimed the platform will adapt the room to the guest’s state of mind and health, providing intuitive options to evoke a deeper sense of wellbeing.
Six Senses Svart will have four restaurants – including an interpretation of Six Senses’ Marketplace concept – and an Alchemy Bar highlighting the history of the region.
A centre for engagement and innovation, the Earth Lab at Svart will serve as a sustainability outreach space, showcasing lifecycle living initiatives on and off the property.
There will also be a Svart Design Lab, which will act as an incubator for innovation and education for guests to better understand how new technologies can bring the hospitality sector closer to carbon neutrality, as part of a cradle-to-cradle lifestyle hospitality offering.
Space Copenhagen – founded in 2005 by Peter Bundgaard and Signe Bindslev Henriksen – has designed the hotel in its signature style of ‘Poetic Modernism’
Henriksen said: “The design aesthetic does not seek to mimic or filter the magnificence of the Norwegian landscape, but to be a humble backdrop to it. The building itself – an unbroken, seamless circle – will become a portal dedicated to enhancing human connection to nature, the seasons and to time itself”.
The design vision for Six Senses Svart is influenced by a ‘fiskehjell’ (an a-shaped wooden structure for drying fish) and the ‘rorbu’ (a coastal fisherman’s cabin).
A project of firsts CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs said: “Sustainable properties call for extraordinary creativity, and Six Senses Svart – our first property in Scandinavia – takes us to a whole new level in terms of pushing boundaries.
“The concept has become bigger than the project itself, as it will provide a futuristic showcase for what can be achieved in terms of sustainability and energy solutions, and therefore a blueprint within our hospitality industry and the development sector in general.”
Six Senses says the building will harvest enough solar energy to power the hotel, adjacent operations, the boat shuttle, and the energy needed to actually construct the building – rendering it independent from the grid.
“Such energy-positive buildings could deliver 89 per cent of the 45 per cent decrease in emissions required to reach the scenario where global warming is limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,” says Jacobs.
“As such, Six Senses Svart is the northernmost implementation of the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that carbon neutrality can not only be feasible in a sophisticated development at an eco-sensitive site, but can also be profitable.
“The project has been a long time in the planning to make sure all parts of the operation support the vision from the start, rather than being bolted on as an afterthought,” said Jacobs. “The result will set a new standard in carbon-neutral travel.”
Leading by example Six Senses believes the operation at the destination will inspire guests and raise awareness of the possibilities of regenerative travel and the importance of the polar region, in partnership with the local community. It states that inherent in the project is the commitment not to compromise the fragile and pristine glacial surroundings or the property’s beauty and quality.
Photo: SIX SENSES
"Sustainable properties call for extraordinary creativity" – Neil Jacobs, CEO Six Senses
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
The glass-fronted property will be built on stilts, at the base of a glacier / Photo: Snøhetta_Plompmozes_Miris
Immersed in the Norwegian wilderness, the world’s first energy-positive hotel and spa – Svart – will open in 2024 as a Six Senses resort, following the signing of an agreement between the operator and the hotel’s owner, Svart Eiendom AS.
The circular glass-fronted property will be built on stilts and hover above the clear waters of the Holandsfjorden, at the base of the Svartisen glacier. The word Svart means black and blue in old Norse – a reference to the way the light plays on the glacier through the long Arctic winters and summers.
Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, with interiors overseen by Space Copenhagen, the aim is for Svart to be fully carbon-positive, including zero waste to landfill within the first five years of operation. The team is also working to ensure the 94-room hotel is built with a minimal environmental footprint.
Six Senses has earned a reputation as one of the most sustainably-minded hospitality brands on the market, thanks to its dedication to integrating sustainability throughout its operation – including its spa operations.
Wellness is ingrained deep within Six Senses’ philosophy and the brand has plans to ensure wellness will be the beating heart of the destination.
“Building a unique environment through cutting-edge design and superior craftsmanship comes with clear obligations, so creating a sustainable destination through an optimised resort operation requires us to collaborate with the right partner,” said Ivaylo Lefterov, Svart development director.
“Six Senses shares the same ethos and ambition, to redefine bespoke travel through technological innovation, a carbon-neutral approach, ground-breaking design and an exceptional guest journey.”
Integrative wellness In line with the nature-first ethos behind the property, Six Senses Svart will house an indoor-outdoor spa, which will allow guests to soak up the benefits of the stunning backdrop. The spa was originally designed by consultant Felicity Leahy, and is now being fine-tuned in line with Six Senses’ approach.
Wellness at the property will extend beyond the walls of the spa and fitness centre to become an integrated experience. Svart plans to cover the ‘full gambit’ of integrated wellness, from compression boots and vitamin IVs in the biohacking lounge, to all-round wellness in the sensory treatment suites.
Guests will also enjoy state-of-the-art fitness equipment and wearable tech integration, including a specially-developed Svart Touch wellness concierge concept that Six Senses says will “further elevate the brand’s wellness approach”.
The new technology will be integrated into each guest room and delivered via non-invasive touchless consoles. It’s claimed the platform will adapt the room to the guest’s state of mind and health, providing intuitive options to evoke a deeper sense of wellbeing.
Six Senses Svart will have four restaurants – including an interpretation of Six Senses’ Marketplace concept – and an Alchemy Bar highlighting the history of the region.
A centre for engagement and innovation, the Earth Lab at Svart will serve as a sustainability outreach space, showcasing lifecycle living initiatives on and off the property.
There will also be a Svart Design Lab, which will act as an incubator for innovation and education for guests to better understand how new technologies can bring the hospitality sector closer to carbon neutrality, as part of a cradle-to-cradle lifestyle hospitality offering.
Space Copenhagen – founded in 2005 by Peter Bundgaard and Signe Bindslev Henriksen – has designed the hotel in its signature style of ‘Poetic Modernism’
Henriksen said: “The design aesthetic does not seek to mimic or filter the magnificence of the Norwegian landscape, but to be a humble backdrop to it. The building itself – an unbroken, seamless circle – will become a portal dedicated to enhancing human connection to nature, the seasons and to time itself”.
The design vision for Six Senses Svart is influenced by a ‘fiskehjell’ (an a-shaped wooden structure for drying fish) and the ‘rorbu’ (a coastal fisherman’s cabin).
A project of firsts CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs said: “Sustainable properties call for extraordinary creativity, and Six Senses Svart – our first property in Scandinavia – takes us to a whole new level in terms of pushing boundaries.
“The concept has become bigger than the project itself, as it will provide a futuristic showcase for what can be achieved in terms of sustainability and energy solutions, and therefore a blueprint within our hospitality industry and the development sector in general.”
Six Senses says the building will harvest enough solar energy to power the hotel, adjacent operations, the boat shuttle, and the energy needed to actually construct the building – rendering it independent from the grid.
“Such energy-positive buildings could deliver 89 per cent of the 45 per cent decrease in emissions required to reach the scenario where global warming is limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,” says Jacobs.
“As such, Six Senses Svart is the northernmost implementation of the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that carbon neutrality can not only be feasible in a sophisticated development at an eco-sensitive site, but can also be profitable.
“The project has been a long time in the planning to make sure all parts of the operation support the vision from the start, rather than being bolted on as an afterthought,” said Jacobs. “The result will set a new standard in carbon-neutral travel.”
Leading by example Six Senses believes the operation at the destination will inspire guests and raise awareness of the possibilities of regenerative travel and the importance of the polar region, in partnership with the local community. It states that inherent in the project is the commitment not to compromise the fragile and pristine glacial surroundings or the property’s beauty and quality.
Photo: SIX SENSES
"Sustainable properties call for extraordinary creativity" – Neil Jacobs, CEO Six Senses
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, a destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy,
will reveal a new spa in February 2027, which has been designed by wellness expert and
consultant Patrizia Bortolin.
Private hotel owner and developer HVL Hotels will open a new luxury resort and tourism
destination called Laval Hunter Valley in the second half of 2027 in Pokolbin, Australia.
The annual wellness festival dedicated to wellbeing, culture, longevity and human connection,
called Alma, will be hosted by Rocco Forte hotel, Verdura Resort in Sicily, Italy.
Capella Hotel Group has appointed Feisal Jaffer as chief development officer as the company
ramps up its global expansion of both its Capella and Patina brands.
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
