Italian firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group released plans for a semi-submerged resort on the coast of Qatar, according to Gizmag. Amphibious 1000 is a $500 million project that will sit in a protected marine area of the Middle Eastern sovereign state.
The resort will include residential buildings, offices, a central marine park, floating walkways, and underwater marine galleries to form a semi-circle around a central tower, which will house a restaurant with panoramic views.
There will be two sections of the resort: one on sea, the other on land. The sea section will have four semi-submerged hotels that look similar to super-yachts, each including 75 luxury suites with private terraces. The hotels will feature underwater passageways with views of the central marine park and provide access to the activities zone, while the centralized lobby houses an interactive sea life museum with multiple aquariums, water exhibitions, and galleries.
In addition to the luxury hotel suites are 80 floating suites, called "Jelly Fish," that will include underwater viewing decks with views of an artificial reef bed.
"Aware of the impact that human intervention has always evoked the environment, [our] architecture is distinguished by the intent to conquer new spaces for living in harmony with nature," the architects told Gizmag.
Related Stories
| Jan 28, 2014
First Look: BIG's Honeycomb building for Bahamas resort [slideshow]
BIG + HKS + MDA have unveiled the design for the new Honeycomb building and adjacent plaza in The Bahamas – a 175,000-sf residential facility with a private pool on each balcony.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 21, 2014
2013: The year of the super-tall skyscraper
Last year was the second-busiest ever in terms of 200-meter-plus building completions, with 73 towers, according to a report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Dec 27, 2013
Grand Cancun to be first net-zero energy luxury eco-tourism resort
Using a marine platform concept instead of an artificial island, the development will create more space with less impact in the fragile marine ecosystem.
| Dec 27, 2013
$1 billion 'city within a city' development approved by Coachella, Calif., city council
The mega development includes 7,800 homes, a retail center, office space, and nearly 350 acres of open space.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.