Camp Ripan.

In the heart of Kiruna, among forests and snow-covered mountains, lies Camp Ripan – “a hotel, but an unusual one” as they describe themselves. We can’t help but agree.

There is no mistaking that Camp Ripan is inspired by the northern landscape. They’ve let nature guide the outcome of the buildings, the decor, the food and the spa – and there’s a thought behind everything. It’s no coincidence that the panoramic windows of the main building recall the view from a mountain peak, or that the spa is furnished with natural and sustainable materials found in the Lapland countryside.

Natural, of course.

Nature and sustainability are the common thread that runs throughout Camp Ripan. When it came to building the spa area, they once again let nature dictate the outcome, and instead of shutting winter out, they chose to make it part of the spa experience: a warm outdoor pool under the stars. Fantastic, but not entirely painless – as it poses some challenges:

1. In Kiruna, winter is long, and it’s not unusual to have meters of snow. Keeping the path between the indoor and outdoor pools clear of snow takes time and hard work.
2. It is difficult to ensure a non-slip path when the mixture of warm steam and cold snow is ideal for ice formation.
3. Salt and chemicals as a snow melting method are completely contrary to the natural and sustainable approach that Camp Ripan stands for.

An energy-efficient solution.

The solution was our heating mats, which today are installed around the entire spa. The mats are easily plugged into a standard electrical outlet and can be connected in series up to 16 times to cover larger areas. Like everything else at Camp Ripan, there is a thought behind the purchase, and why the mats are located where they are:

1. They contribute to a more sustainable work environment for Camp Ripan employees.
2. 100% snow and ice-free walkways, increasing both safety and comfort for hotel guests.
3. Snow melting without salt or chemicals – just as effective on milder winter days as in wolf winters.

What about energy consumption?

Let’s put it this way: Camp Ripan has around 15 heating mats that are used every day, 8 months a year. At the same time, Camp Ripan is a Nordic Swan Ecolabeled hotel, and in order to be Nordic Swan Ecolabeled, a business must meet a number of limit values – including the limit value for energy consumption. In short: energy consumption is not a problem.