Gallery: Tron: Legacy Inspires Sci-Fi Suite in Swedish Ice Hotel
01Disney Tron Legacy inspired - legacy of the river suite at the Ice Hotel - arctic sweden-660
An eye-popping nightclub depicted in *Tron: Legacy* inspired two British sci-fi fans to build a *Tron*-themed hotel suite entirely from ice and snow. Ben Rousseau and architect Ian Douglas-Jones designed and built the [Legacy of the River](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2HmMt1aPno) room, one of a handful of artistic installations in this year's [Icehotel](http://www.icehotel.com/uk/ICEHOTEL/Press-media/news-articles/Ice-artists-wanted-for-ICEHOTEL21/), a seasonal project near the arctic circle in the Swedish town of Jukkasjärvi. "We are massive *Tron* fans," the duo told Wired.com in an e-mail interview about the project. "The entire film is a complete fantasy for us both with its high-tech and futuristic design. "The use of lighting and the material finishes in this nightclub scene are very close to ideas we have been discussing for use in the real world, as well as being close to what we could achieve with ice and snow and a little imagination." Here's a closer look at the making of the Legacy of the River suite. __Above:__ Keeping Cool ------------ To withstand the extreme cold, Rousseau and Douglas-Jones wore special outfits made by [Oakley](http://www.oakley.com/) (the same company that provided sunglasses to the trapped Chilean coal miners). Douglas-Jones and Rosseau worked in freezing weather while they outfitted the building with sustainable lighting technologies.
02Ben Rousseau + Ian Douglas-Jones - Legacy of the River Suite-660
Icy Interior ------------ The *Tron*-inspired Legacy of the River room is approximately 220 square feet. "We used six tons of ice and 160 meters of low-energy electroluminescent wire," creators Ben Rousseau and Ian Douglas-Jones told Wired.com in an e-mail interview. "The hotel itself comprises 21,500 tons of snow and 900 tons of ice; it will last until April, when it will melt and the snow and ice will return to the Torne River." The *Tron*-inspired Legacy of the River suite at Icehotel was filmed for the pilot episode of a new TV series titled *[Extreme Design](http://www.extreme-design.net/)*.
03Disney Tron Legacy inspired - legacy of the river suite at the Ice Hotel - arctic sweden --660
Lighting Up the Night --------------------- The build showcases a product line that the designers plan to launch in 2011. "Lighting design and technology has been a stable part of Rousseau Design's expertise from the beginning so it will very much continue in that stream," Legacy of the River creators Ben Rousseau and Ian Douglas-Jones told Wired.com in an e-mail interview.
04Disney Tron Legacy inspired - Circuitry pattination ice detail-660
*Tron*-Style Circuitry ---------------------- Light circuitry inspired by *Tron: Legacy* exerted a clear influence on the Legacy of the River suite's aesthetic.
05Ben Rousseau working on Tron inspired Room at the Ice Hotel -660
Hand-Building an Icehotel Suite ------------------------------- Designer Ben Rousseau labors on the *Tron: Legacy*-inspired suite at the Icehotel. "The build took approximately 12 days, which is almost unheard of at the Icehotel: The normal time period is 18 days for an artist suite," Legacy of the River creators Rousseau and Ian Douglas-Jones told Wired.com in an e-mail interview. "We had worked extremely hard to finish ahead of the U.K. premiere of *Tron: Legacy* as well as Daft Punk's release of the movie score. Some days we worked 19 hours, so we are pretty tired at this point and enjoying a little relax time!"
06Ian Douglas - Jones - chaninsawing Ice at the Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Built by Chainsaw ------------------ Designer Ian Douglas-Jones takes the direct approach to building Legacy of the River — by laying into arctic ice with a chainsaw.
07Disney Tron Legacy inspired - Circuitry pattination detail-660
Futuristic Concepts ------------------- Ben Rousseau and Ian Douglas–Jones collaborated last year on an installation at London's Victoria and Albert Museum Design Festival. Using futuristic lighting technologies that use negligible amounts of energy, and concept architecture and styling taken from a combination of scenes from the forthcoming film *Tron: Legacy*, these two again join forces to create a unique project with a sustainable focus.
08Using Makita power tools on the ICE to create The Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel.JPG-660
Powering Up ----------- Makita power tools play a key role in constructing the *Tron*-inspired Legacy of the River suite at Icehotel.
09Snow canons used to make 'snice' perfect snow for creating the Ice Hotel-Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Making 'Snice' -------------- Snow cannons make "snice," the perfect type of snow for constructing the Icehotel's varied suites. "It's incredible the properties and variety of material that water has to offer, with many types of snow and ice," Legacy of the River creators Ben Rousseau and Ian Douglas-Jones told Wired.com in an e-mail interview. "This year it has been particularly cold so the ice has been brittle and the snow very dry, which has been a challenge with getting the correct mix to build with."
10Hotel structure used to form the Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Icehotel Tunnel --------------- The Icehotel suites, including the *Tron*-inspired Legacy of the River, are built entirely of snow and ice. The annual art project will disappear when everything melts.
11Ian Douglas - Jones and Ben Rousseau relax in teh main Ice Hotel gallery - Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Chillin' in the Icehotel ------------------------ Ian Douglas-Jones and Ben Rousseau relax in the main gallery of the Icehotel.
12Ice Hotel from teh banks of the River Trone, Arctic Sweden Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Icehotel -------- The Icehotel, as seen from the banks of the River Trone, looks unassuming enough.
13Hotel structure in construction-Legacy of the River Suite-Ice Hotel-660
Icehotel Seen From the Outside ------------------------------ An overall look at Sweden's Icehotel.
Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home
Protect your home against dust, pets, allergens, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.
Molly Higgins
Stop Playing Monopoly and Scrabble. These Board Games Will Elevate Your Family Game Night
From monsters to kittens to strategy games, these sets will liven things up on nights when everyone is tired of screens.
Simon Hill
The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online in 2026
WIRED has tested 100-plus bed-in-a-box mattresses for a week each. Our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid, is the best bed you can buy online.
Julia Forbes
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best delivery services and meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s meal service, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Portable Power Stations for Blackouts, Camping, or Van Life
Whether you’re going off-grid or safeguarding against blackouts, these beefy, WIRED-tested batteries can keep the lights on.
Simon Hill
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
Apple just raised its prices. Here’s an updated breakdown of the brand’s tablets to find the best one for your needs.
Luke Larsen
A Guided Tour of Donald Trump’s Renovated Washington, DC
Trump has remade the nation’s capitol in his own image. Ahead of the Fourth of July, WIRED guides you through the dizzying effects of DC’s makeover.
Hugo Lowell
The Best Dorm Room Essentials for New and Returning College Students
Deck out your room and make class a cinch with these WIRED-tested favorites.
Louryn Strampe
I Tried 12 of the Most Popular Indoor Gardening Systems
Grow a backyard’s worth of greens and vegetables in your house with a vertical hydroponic garden. Here are a few that might be worth the investment.
Kat Merck
28 Amazing STEM Toys Approved by WIRED Kids
We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squish—or even tear apart and rebuild.
Simon Hill
The 10 Best WIRED-Tested Pet Cameras
Whether you’re near or far, keep an eye on your fur baby with our favorite pet cameras.
Molly Higgins