The Snow & Ice Sculpture Festival is sculpted from no less than 300,000
kilograms of crystal-clear ice and 400 tons of pure snow. This treasure-trove
of icy masterpieces is preserved in a special 1,200 m² thermal tent, where
the temperature is kept at a constant -5° C. The first refrigerated lorries
will arrive at the beginning of November, to deposit their 2 ton ice blocks
on the Station-square. A fleet of bulldozers and cranes will move these
blocks into the cold hall, where they will be stacked in preparation for
the sculpting of the metres-high snow & ice decors.
In addition to the ice, a staggering 400 tons of snow will also be transformed
into gigantic works of frosty art. The powder-fine snow will be made inside
the tent and blown into specially constructed moulds. This allows for the
creation of massive snow blocks, from which the figures and shapes can
then be cut. The combination of architectural lighting and sparkling ice
creates a magical and fairylike showpiece.
