The Waterfall Hotel
In August 2006, British architectural company Atkins won an international design competition for the five-star hotel and their vision is in the process of being transformed into reality by Chinese developer Shimao. A quarry is a rather unlikely destination for a luxury hotel. Perhaps, that’s what makes the concept of Songjiang Quarry Hotel so awe-inspiring. The aqueous theme embodied in it both visually and functionally, so it would be more accurate to call this object the Hotel- Waterfall. Atkins is providing architecture, structural and civil engineering services for this leisure resort in China, which includes extreme sports facilities, visiof tor centre and a fivestar luxury hotel with some levels of the hotel situated under water. Sustainability is integral to Atkins’ design of this unique resort, built into an abandoned, waterfilled quarry. Atkins’ design solution includes the use of green roofing and exploiting the site’s geothermal heat to generate electricity and heating. A naturally-lit internal atrium incorporates the existing rock face, with its waterfalls and green vegetation.
DESTINATION
The satellite town of Songjiang is approximately 35 km from Shanghai city centre and well connected to existing transport infrastructure. Sprawling landscapes and natural beauty have made it a popular tourist destination and the district has been designated as an important local and national leisure resource. The design of the Songjiang Quarry Hotel is meant to reflect the natural landscape of the quarry. The winning concept was inspired by the stunning location and the natural environment of the rocky cliffs, waterfalls and surrounding hills.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
The project will see the construction of a five-star, 300-bedroom hotel built into the side of a disused, 90 m deep, and water filled quarry. The hotel will be operated by Intercontinental as a sport and leisure-oriented spa resort. The concept design has attracted tremendous interest across the world. Apart from the green roof, it is intended that many features, ranging from geothermal energy to solar energy utilization, are included in this project. The reasons for the green roof are two-fold: it is both for the building to fit seamlessly into the surrounding environment and become a ‘natural’ part of the local topography, and also for its eco-friendly and energy saving qualities.
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Materials provided by Atkins