Snøhetta to Design Helsinki Hotel Inspired by Shattered Ice

Norwegian firm Snøhetta has won a design competition for a new hotel on the Hakaniemi waterfront in Helsinki. The winning proposal, called Hilbert’s Hotel, aims to create permeable public space that provides easy access to the riverside. On the ground floor, Hilbert’s Hotel will offer amenities including restaurants, bars, outdoor seating, and rooftop terraces.

Elevated above a stepped plaza, the hotel will be sheathed in a smooth white glass skin—a nod to shattered ice shards. The modular facade, a departure from the neighborhood’s masonry architecture, changes appearance throughout the day. Guest rooms illuminate at night, creating a pattern of light on the exterior.

AB invest A/S, the City of Helsinki, and the Finnish Association of Architects arranged the competition last year and announced the winning proposal on February 1.