The Dutch design studio NL Architects has proposed an incredibly ambitious, unique design for a new hotel on an island off the south coast of China called Ocean Flower island. The project, which the firm themselves describe as “Slightly insane,” is planned to be the first in a chain of hotels inspired by gemstones, with this first towering, violet giant named “The Amethyst” for the rocks that inspired its shape and colour. Guests at the hotel will be housed behind faceted glass panels, that will be shaped and coloured to resemble the innards of a cracked open amethyst stone.
Lead architects Kamiel Klaase and Pieter Bannenberg chose the gemstone for its “Seductive” qualities
The amethyst quartz stone has been the subject of many myths throughout history. In ancient Greece it was believed to prevent drunkenness, medieval soldiers used it for protection, and many others throughout history thought it held medicinal properties, and could not only boost a person's immune system, but stop them from having nightmares too. Lead architects Kamiel Klaase and Pieter Bannenberg, however, chose the gemstone for its “Seductive” qualities, but do believe that the hotel will benefit from the associations many people still have with the supposed healing powers of amethyst. The duo said “The Amethyst Hotel has the potential to become a performative symbol, a symbol with actual powers associated with it.”
The design of The Amethyst could be described as a close cousin to the work of the architect John Portman
The proposal is far from the first radical hotel design of course. In fact, the design of The Amethyst could be described as a close cousin to the work of the architect John Portman, who has designed many such hotels with grand, unique atriums for noted brands such as Hyatt and Marriott. As with Portman's designs, this hotel would arrange itself around the central atrium, with rooms surrounding it and access corridors running around the outer perimeter. This means all rooms will face the centre of the hotel, which will be fronted by glazing. Klasse and Bannenberg have admitted Portman's influence, calling the project “A mutation of Portman's innovative hotel typology of hotel rooms lining a sensational void.”
This is just the first hotel planned by the architects, who envision a range of similar hotels around the world
This is, of course, just the first hotel planned by the architects, who envision a range of similar hotels around the world based, each with different dramatic shapes. For the basis of the design, they used the Marriott Marquis hotel design as a litmus test, only they image the Amethyst as “A Marriott Marquis hotel sliced in the centre, exposing its magnificent interior.” As for if and when we'll see this uniquely ambitious project come to fruition? The architects are optimistic, stating that “Developments are slow,” but by going public, they “Hope to catalyse the project.”
