Atkin’s Architecture Group recently won the first prize award for an international design competition with this stunning entry. Set in a 330 feet deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms. The 400 bed resort hotel is uniquely constructed within the natural elements of the quarry. Underwater public areas and guest rooms add to the uniqueness, but the resort also boasts cafes, restaurants and sporting facilities.
This spectacular and intriguing looking hotel is set in a partly water filled quarry, located in the Songijang satellite town of Shanghai. Bristol-based Martin Jochman, who led the design team, says, “We drew our inspiration from the quarry setting itself, adopting the image of a green hill cascading down the natural rock face as a series of terraced landscaped hanging gardens. In the centre, we have created a transparent glass ‘waterfall’ from a central vertical circulation atrium connecting the quarry base with the ground level. This replicates the natural waterfalls on the existing quarry face.”
The firm has earlier won a contract to develop the master planning and detail design for part of Songijang which was an existing town that was expanded to serve as a satellite town to Shanghai. The new Songijang is a university town and a popular weekend and holiday destination for Shanghai residents and other visitors, linked to Shanghai by metro.
http://lilomag.com/2010/06/26/waterworld-hotel-china/
http://lilomag.com/2010/06/26/waterworld-hotel-china/