the 'Floating' Hotel

Atkins Office in Shanghai had this design for a new hotel in Lingang New Town. I don't think it's really floating. The idea is that it looks like it is. It's rather pretty. I wish I did archtitecture.

China new town island hotel design is winner

The client wanted a 'striking statement' - and this is the result: a hotel ...floating like a lotus flower.
Shanghai office has won this (yet another!) international design competition. The five star 350 bed, resort hotel will be on an island in a circular lake, and form the centrepiece of Lingang new Town, near Shanghai.
"Our design was a response to the remarkable Lingang new town masterplan which has created a perfectly circular 500 hectare lake as its centrepiece," reports project manager Shen Yufeng. "The hotel will be one of the first buildings to be constructed in the area."
Typically Atkins, we beat six international design firms to win the job. "The client's brief called for a striking landmark, but limited the height to only 15 metres. Our winning concept adopted the image of a natural form, such as a lotus flower that could be thought of as an object floating in the lake," Shen explains.
Our winning concept ... a striking landmark with five 'leaves'
"The plan form is very dramatic but also achieves a very functional hotel layout. The central drum connects the five leaves of the plan. The 'leaves' contain either hotel rooms, restaurant spaces or meeting rooms.
"The central drum contains the reception, lobby and key circulation spaces. The five 'leaves' of the hotel reach out into the landscape allowing unblocked views of the lake or gardens from every room.
"The inner space of each 'leaf' is designed as an atrium space allowing natural light and ventilation into the heart of the public spaces."
Service and kitchen spaces are accommodated within a low wing that connects the conference and dining 'leaves'. The majority of back of house and car parking is contained at a basement level.
A further independent block, designed in a similar style, accommodates a clubhouse for a small marina. Children's playgrounds, a karting track plus recreational and landscape areas will create a complete resort island environment.