With the imminent arrival of spring across Europe and temperatures tentatively rising, the ephemeral Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden will soon return from whence it came, melting back into the Torne River.

However, its creators are already preparing for the hotel’s return towards the end of the year, harvesting huge blocks of ice and snow and seeking design ideas for the future guestrooms – each of which is conceived as an independent art installation.

The jury that will determine the winning designs has called for “thoughtful, crazy, innovative, creative or beautiful ideas,” with the only requirements being that everything is entirely made from ice and snow and the designs are original and include a bed. Applications can be submitted until 6 May 2018.

“Ice has an interesting effect on creativity,” said artist and Icehotel creative advisor Arne Bergh. “Since it’s not a permanent material, people aren’t afraid of trying ideas they otherwise wouldn’t dare to test.

“It doesn’t matter if you have worked with ice and snow before – just submit your application. If you’re selected, Icehotel will show you and your fellow artists some basics about the material and the tools. The artist teams are responsible for completing their suites at Icehotel, but there is also a support team that can advise you on design and construction and a lighting team to assist you with the lighting of your suite.”

The jury will assess the new applications based on concept, innovativeness and visualisation. The selected artists will be invited to Jukkasjärvi for two weeks in November and December to start work on their rooms.

The 2018/19 Icehotel will join its permanent neighbour Icehotel 365, which is kept intact all year round – despite its walls, floors and ceiling being made exclusively from ice and snow – thanks to a refrigerating plant powered by solar energy from Jukkasjärvi’s midnight sun.