Halo Igloos Resort – Northern lights and charred wood

Halo Igloos is a glass igloo resort in Rovaniemi built on a simple idea: head out past the city lights, slow down, and let the arctic sky and surrounding forest do the rest. The location sits just far enough from town to escape light pollution, yet close enough to the Arctic Circle and Rovaniemi’s services to work both as an experience destination and a convenient place to stay.

When the project needed materials with an ecological dimension, the choice fell on Hiil’s Kiertopuu products. Nearly all wood surfaces across the site were finished with Hiil wood to keep the look cohesive from outdoors to indoors. The cabins and restaurant feature Hiili on exterior cladding. Inside the communal kota — a traditional tepee-like gathering space around an open fire — Kuura was chosen for the wall surfaces, bringing a lighter feel that suits the warm glow of the fireplace better than dark wood would. The restaurant ceiling is finished with Kelo, and the cabins use charred wood in several interior surfaces. Interior panelling is in Kaarna, and the sauna benches are Kelo.

The role of charred wood becomes especially pronounced in winter, when guests arrive primarily to see the northern lights. Glass and landscape are the heart of the experience, but materials define how a space feels up close. The charred surface adds depth and a sense of calm — it belongs in the same world as glass, snow, and dark forest. Halo Igloos describes its vision as a connection with nature and a quiet, private experience. Charred wood works here as a frame for that experience, present but never competing with what lies beyond the glass.

Products

The project used Hiili for exterior cladding, Kaarna for interior panelling and sauna, and Kelo for sauna benches and interior ceilings.