27/05/2026
What happens when access technology meets one of the most extreme environments on the planet? ❄️
At the Sorrisniva resort in Alta, Norway — 380 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle — dormakaba has completed a first-of-its-kind pilot project: an automatic sliding door integrated directly into the living structure of the world's northernmost ice hotel. The challenge was real: temperatures down to minus 30°C, ceilings that sink by up to a meter as the ice shifts, and a guest experience that cannot be compromised.
The solution at the heart of this project is MotionIQ, our intelligent door technology that optimizes automatic door operation and can reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions by up to 50%. Smart access solutions were also deployed across the full resort — from the restaurant to the central entrances of the Arctic Wilderness Lodge — ensuring seamless, barrier-free visitor flow throughout.
Beyond the engineering achievement, this project is a live testing ground. The insights gathered here will directly inform the development of access technologies that make buildings worldwide more energy-efficient, reliable, and comfortable — no matter the conditions.