Ever found yourself on holiday thinking "it's a great hotel, but I wish it was floating"? Then we bring good news. Fixed structures are a thing of yesteryear; the hotels of the future are laying their foundations in watery beds and Amsterdam based Dutch Docklands are the masterminds behind some of the most exciting floating developments. Take a look at where you’ll be checking in at in 2020...
Dutch Docklands' first project is Krystal, a snowflake-shaped luxury hotel set to open it’s doors off Norway’s northern coast in 2017. Nestling amongst the breathtaking beauty of Tromsø’s fjords, the hotel will be situated in the heart of the Arctic Circle offering some of the world’s best views of the Northern Lights.
Krystal of Norway's northern coast
The stunning ice-crystal design will blend in effortlessly with the surrounding environment and house 86 rooms as well as a spa and wellness centre within it’s 120 meter diameter. The entire design is self-supporting as well as self-sustainable, ensuring there'll be zero impact on the surroundings. In fact, the hotel is marketed by Waterstudio as a “scarless development”, meaning it can be removed in years to come without any long-term visual impact to the locality.
Krystal will be one of the best places to see the northern lights.
Krystal will be the first floating hotel in Europe, but Dutch Docklands already have worldwide projects underway. The experts on floating structures are also working on a joint-venture with the Government of the Maldives; an ambitious masterplan to build floating developments across more than 80 million sq.ft of water. The first project - rather wonderfully called The Ocean Flower - is now in process.
The Ocean Flower
Found in the North Male atoll, The Ocean Flower is a series of 185 water villas. In years to come the area will also house Amarillah; a group of 10 floating private islands, the world’s first 18-hole floating golf course and eventually; The Greenstar convention hotel.
The Greenstar
If you thought Krystal seemed wild beyond all ambition then just look at The Greenstar; a star-shaped hotel, that will float (of course) and blend-in naturally with the surrounding islands. The Maldivians’ hope The Greenstar will symbolise their dedication to conquering climate change. In the future they’d like it to be the world location for conventions about climate change, water management and sustainability.
China's floating city
And in other (floating) news, China is planning to build an entire floating city; encompassing underwater chambers, recreation zones and areas both on and below the water’s surface which will be able to host stadium-style concerts. Plans for the development include yet more floating hotels and a self-contained ecosystem, all based off the country’s coast. The city will serve primarily as a high-end tourist attraction, but the four-square-mile urban centre has the potential to provide housing to residents of China’s overcrowded cities. It’s still in the talks phase for now, but developers are certain there’s a very real demand for it.
Walking on water just got real. Time to re-think your future holiday goals.
