This hotel, designed by the Atkins groups, will be an outstanding example of incorporating a building into an existing site. The 400-bed resort is to be built near Shanghai in a 100 meter deep quarry. The quarry will provide protection from the weather, and reduce the energy needs of the hotel. The complex will contain restaurants, cafes, sport facilities, and will even include underwater public areas and guestrooms.
The hotel on track to open in May 2009. The hotel will also be covered with a green roof, and will use geothermal power for electricity and heat.
An aquatic theme runs through the design both visually and functionally. Curved wings of the main body of the guestrooms enclose a naturally lit internal atrium, which uses the existing rock face with its waterfalls and green vegetation. This will be overlooked by guestroom balconies and contain restaurants and cafés at the base. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guestrooms facing a ten-metre deep aquarium. The lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports centre for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel.
Via: Inhabitat and Green Roofs
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Green schemes won’t work unless there’s a financial incentive, and the uniqueness and apparent cost savings will hopefully make this project successful.
I live in Shanghai, and it’s really sad to see that they haven’t cottoned on to the fact that Green areas promote health, beauty, tourism, and a whole host of other benefits including increased investment (people like to invest money where it’s actually nice to work and live). More green less grey I say.
Now that is one amazing hotel. I’ll surely visit it if I go to china!!
Very cool looking place. How long till they build a slide from your balcony into the quarry
Very very cool. I would definitely splurge on a Hotel such as this.
That is an awesome hotel, I would love to stay there but will probably be very expensive.
As a Mineral Planner working in the UK it is great to see that there are already, innovative and captivating restoration schemes such as this coming forward in China – good luck! (On a par with the Eden Project!)
OMG, this place is freakin’ amazing people. I mean underwater rooms how much better does it get. I can’t wait until I win the lottery.
Not only the industry but now olso the hotel is incredible.