Luxury Hotel 'Groundscraper' Planned In Abandoned Quarry
Source: http://www.cnngo.com
#groundscraper #hotel #luxury #china #architecture #construction
Would you spend US$ 300 a night to sleep underground? You might, once you see the jaw-dropping designs for China's latest hotel project. For more than a decade, China has been a front-runner in the world's skyscraper race. Now the country is taking the pole position in digging "groundscrapers" -- enormous structures built mostly underground.
As reported CNN International, most recently, ground has been broken on construction of a high-end hotel at the foot of Shanghai's Tianmashan in a 100-meter-deep pit. Developed by Shanghai Shimao Property Group and to be managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the hotel, named InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, is expected to extend 19 stories into the bottom of the pit.
Once completed, in late 2014 or early 2015, the deepest story of the luxury resort will be approximately 700 meters lower than the top floor of the world's-highest-hotel-to-be, the Shanghai Tower J Hotel in Shanghai Tower, set for completion around the same time.
Located about 45 kilometers southwest of Shanghai's city center, the pit in Tianmushan is 100 meters deep, 240 meters long and 160 meters wide. The lowest 20 meters are filled with stagnant rainwater, which the hotel will retain. Construction of the 380-room InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland commenced last month. The 19-story hotel will have three levels above ground, and 16 underground, including an underwater restaurant. A 60-meter glass curtain will be built to mimic a waterfall next to the resort's main structure.
The pit has served as a quarry since the 1950s, then it has been abandoned since the year 2000. Shimao purchased the surrounding land in 2006 in order to build Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, a large-scale theme park integrating hospitality, leisure and entertainment elements. The hotel is planned as part of the wonderland complex. Designed by UK-based engineering firm Atkins, the company behind the ostentatious Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, the quarry hotel design bagged a Gold Medal at last year's commercial real estate MIPIM Asia Awards.
Industry experts believe nightly room rates will start from US$ 320, twice the price currently charged by nearby five-star hotels. Shimao is investing a total of US$ 555 million in the 428 thousand square meter Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, of which US$ 95 million will go toward the subterranean resort. Hotel planners are considering taking advantage of the site's surrounding cliffs by hosting activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping.
As reported CNN International, most recently, ground has been broken on construction of a high-end hotel at the foot of Shanghai's Tianmashan in a 100-meter-deep pit. Developed by Shanghai Shimao Property Group and to be managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the hotel, named InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, is expected to extend 19 stories into the bottom of the pit.
Once completed, in late 2014 or early 2015, the deepest story of the luxury resort will be approximately 700 meters lower than the top floor of the world's-highest-hotel-to-be, the Shanghai Tower J Hotel in Shanghai Tower, set for completion around the same time.
Located about 45 kilometers southwest of Shanghai's city center, the pit in Tianmushan is 100 meters deep, 240 meters long and 160 meters wide. The lowest 20 meters are filled with stagnant rainwater, which the hotel will retain. Construction of the 380-room InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland commenced last month. The 19-story hotel will have three levels above ground, and 16 underground, including an underwater restaurant. A 60-meter glass curtain will be built to mimic a waterfall next to the resort's main structure.
The pit has served as a quarry since the 1950s, then it has been abandoned since the year 2000. Shimao purchased the surrounding land in 2006 in order to build Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, a large-scale theme park integrating hospitality, leisure and entertainment elements. The hotel is planned as part of the wonderland complex. Designed by UK-based engineering firm Atkins, the company behind the ostentatious Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, the quarry hotel design bagged a Gold Medal at last year's commercial real estate MIPIM Asia Awards.
Industry experts believe nightly room rates will start from US$ 320, twice the price currently charged by nearby five-star hotels. Shimao is investing a total of US$ 555 million in the 428 thousand square meter Shimao Shanghai Wonderland, of which US$ 95 million will go toward the subterranean resort. Hotel planners are considering taking advantage of the site's surrounding cliffs by hosting activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping.
