Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, Dubai
Architecture | 07.05.2007 | 19 Comments
Currently under construction in Dubai, Hydropolis is the world’s first luxury underwater hotel. It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It is one of the largest contemporary construction projects in the world, covering an area of 260 hectares. It will open at the end of 2007.
The original idea for Hydropolis developed out of Hauser’s passion for water and the sea, and goes much deeper than just building a hotel underwater. More than just curiosity, it is a commitment to a more far-reaching philosophy. “Once you start digging deeper and deeper into the subject, you can’t help being fascinated and you start caring about all the associated issues,” he explains. “Humans consist of 80% water, the earth consists of 80% water; without water there is no life.”
Hydropolis reproduces the human organism in an architectural design. There is a direct analogy between the physiology of man and the architecture. The geometrical element is a figure eight lying on its side and inscribed in a circle. The spaces created in the basin will contain function areas, such as restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and theme suites. These can be compared to the components of the human organism: the motor functions and the nervous and cardiovascular systems, with the central sinus knot representing the pulse of all life.
The ballroom, located at this nerve centre, will have asymmetrical pathways connecting the different floors along ramps. A large, petal-like retracting roof will enable the staging of open-sky events. Staircases, lifts and ramps will provide access to the ballroom, while flanking catering areas will supply banquets and receptions.
In order to enter this surreal space, visitors will begin at the land station. This 120m woven, semicircular cylinder will arch over a multi-storey building. On the lowest level passengers aboard a noiseless train propelled by fully automated cable along a modular, self-supporting steel guideway to Hydropolis. A just-in-time and on-demand logistical system will facilitate efficient supply of goods to the hotel.
The upper floors of the land station house a variety of facilities, including a cosmetic surgical clinic, a marine biological research laboratory and conference facilities. On the lower levels are the staff rooms, goods storage and loading areas, and hotel and parking areas.
The land station also includes a restaurant and high-tech cinema screening the evolution of life in the ocean and the history of underwater architecture. As a finale, the screen will open to reveal the real-life Hydropolis. A viewing platform at the front opening of the spanning roof will allow views of the architecture as well as the light shows of Hydropolis.
Source: Design Build Network
Facebook Comments
Jen
4 years ago
Dubai is always up to something new.
tony
4 years ago
It is NOT being built in Dubai.It is still on the drawing boards!!
Sue
4 years ago
Very interesting…
Carole
4 years ago
I would love to stay in a place like this. If it works there maybe they could build something like it over the Great Barrier Reef
Sakura
4 years ago
This would be amazing! Not only would it be a historical design but it would greatly increase Dubai’s tourism–it would be an additional architecture break through as is the famous Burj Al Arab which is also located in Dubai, some serious competition is at hand!
chloe
4 years ago
i think u’re website is really nice and very helpful. it helped me alot on my website.
thanks
Chloe
hannan
4 years ago
a very good idea but i am keen to know tha is there something to protect this building from sea storms like tsunami?
Queen
4 years ago
How Can U Open Any Windows to get fresh air your underwater?????????????????
sahrish
3 years ago
wow!
but if itz underwater dan how cud there b trees
Karen
3 years ago
I love this… i wanna live there!!!
ignoranceisbliss
3 years ago
That part of the design is above water… not under water…
anesti
3 years ago
Hi i am planning to come and see dubai but don’t know where to start from could anyone help me here and is it hard.I live in australia i have a greek restaurant and would like to work over there in a greek restaurant or coffee shop.
Amirol
2 years ago
Dubai is always up to something new..very rich country..
Ray
1 year ago
Very innovative. I love it
Lynn
1 year ago
I think it’s the absolute in a destress venue, but really Dubai must stop all this digging into our beautiful earth. Enough already – stop messing with our planet.
Cheap Hotels In Dubai
1 year ago
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Oriental Rug Cleaning Blog
11 months ago
They always come up with new great ideas. I love the it.
crippsx
7 months ago
there is a real on .. its called the Poseidon undersea resort and is located in Fiji
http://www.poseidonresorts.com/poseidon_main.html
Tom
2 months ago
This is beautiful, adventurous and innovative, but wait untill the ammericans find a way to fuck this up. Dubai beware of the americans, like the rest of the east, they will find a way to deminish you into nothing more than just a used to be.