Naval architect Jean-Michel Ducancelle has designed a solar-powered floating hotel suite aimed at offering an eco-friendly and nomadic place for travellers to stay. The Anthénea pod was conceived as a luxury suite for hoteliers to offer their guests, but can be adapted for use as a spa, bar or restaurant – or anything else. The 50sq m (540sq ft) pod has three spaces: a day space, a night space and

Residents of Sweden’s northernmost town can now relax in a rather unique type of sauna: a sculptural chamber encased within a giant golden egg. Designed by art and design duo Bigert & Bergström, Solar Egg is conceived as a social art work in which the people of Kiruna can meet and discuss the challenges facing their community. The town is being completely relocated so that mining company LKAB can extract

Architect Margot Krasojevic has designed an ice rink facility on a Russian lake that will use the power of the sun and geothermal energy to keep the surface frozen all year round. The ‘Liquid Skating Photovoltaic Ice Skating Rink’ will be located high in the mountains of the Kamchatka peninsula – a popular tourist hotspot due to its volcanic terrain, nature reserves and hot springs. Krasojevic’s client, China Film House,

The world’s first permanent ice hotel has opened to guests 200km (124m) north of the Arctic Circle. Icehotel 365, located in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, is a year-round extension to the world-famous 26-year old temporary structure, which is sculpted every winter using ice from the Torne River before melting in spring. To ensure the new structure stands firm all year round – despite its walls, floors and ceiling being

Here are some of the most popular stories that appeared on CLAD this week, from Elon Musk’s proposed solar roof to three new football stadium designs. Monday • A “smart” self-shading window has been developed that can switch from transparent to opaque in a matter of seconds. Read here. • Two alternative designs have been proposed for Sir Peter Jackson’s Wellington Movie Museum. Read here. • GOCO Hospitality is developing

Billionaire inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk has teased his latest innovation: a customisable roof with integrated solar panels. Two of the billionaire’s companies – electric motor company Tesla and green energy provider SolarCity – are currently undergoing a merger, and the solar roof would be developed by the united firm. Speaking about this move on an earnings call for SolarCity, Musk elaborated on his plans for the release. "It's a

The developers of a luxury island resort opening this year the Maldives have claimed it will be one of the most eco-conscious ever created in South Asia – with thousands of solar panels used as a design feature. Developer Crown & Champa Resorts claims that the Hurawalhi Island Resort will “put as much back into its surroundings as it takes out.” New York architect Yuji Yamazaki has created a futuristic,

Six Senses is opening a resort on Fiji’s Malolo Island in 2017 with a planned Six Senses Spa as well as the Six Senses Integrated Wellness programme. Designed by New Zealand-based architect Richard Priest, Six Senses Fiji will include 24 pool villas and 66 residential villas located along a private sandy beach. Sustainability will be reflected throughout the resort, through active management of energy, water, waste, biodiversity, purchasing and chemical

Norwegian architects Snøhetta have today (4 March) launched a solar-powered light installation in Singapore to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The structure – called Lampshade – is a simple bamboo volume covered with photovoltaic (solar power) cells. It is is filled with intense light during the evenings using solar energy collected during the day. The installation is being displayed at i Light Marina Bay, Asia’s leading sustainable light art

Plans to build a futuristic integrated wind turbine, hotel and tourist attraction in Rotterdam have taken a step forward after 11 companies from the worlds of construction, sustainable design, research, innovation and energy reached an agreement to develop the project. The Dutch Windwheel is envisioned as a 174m (571ft) structure comprised of two giant rings leaning against each other. The outer ring would house 40 pods on moving rails, providing

A hotel powered exclusively by solar energy is to open at Dubai’s ‘The Sustainable City’ development, which has been designed by Baharash Architecture. Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement with Diamond Developers – who are leading the city project – to launch the UAE's second Hotel Indigo. As well as being fully solar powered, all waste water produced by the hotel will be recycled, and all material waste