The Millionaires on the Floss

The architects at Atkins have secured a resounding victory in an international competition to draw the plan for a five-star resort hotel within a watery quarry in attractive propinquity to Shanghai, China. The Songjiang Hotel will be an important part of a new plan to develop a city on the border of Shanghai. It is projected that half a million inhabitants will occupy Songjiang Garden City.

The visionary concept to complement the water and landscape of the quarry impressed the judges enough to convince them to pass over the proposed sketches of two other international firms. A collaboration between offices in Shanghai and Bristol, the Songjiang Hotel is the eighth victory for Atkins. Their plan is to create physical designs for the whole of Songjiang Garden City with emphasis on its business center and three housing districts.

On account of its scenic beauty and proximity to Shanghai, the Songjiang district is intended to attract weekend and holiday visits from Shanghai residents and other travel enthusiasts. The Songjiang resort will also assist in satisfying demand for alternative travel destinations.

Standing two levels higher than the rock face of the 300-plus-foot-deep quarry, the Songjiang Hotel will house 400 beds, a banquet hall, cafes, restaurants, sports facilities, and conference rooms that can accommodate 1,000 people, as well as underwater public areas and guest rooms.

Drawing inspiration from the quarry itself, the architects at Atkins wanted to create a cascading effect for the aquatic-themed hotel. To attract visitors, there will be a glass "waterfall" from the center atrium that connects the quarry base to the ground level, mirroring the real waterfall that drops glimmeringly down the quarry. The wings of the guest rooms are curved and will encompass the atrium, which will showcase the actual rock face and its natural waterfalls and complementing green outgrowth.

Of course, most guest rooms will have balconies, and the base of the hotel will host restaurants and cafes. Two of the underwater levels will have restaurants and guest rooms facing a 30-plus-foot aquarium, and the deepest level will offer a recreational area complete with a highly ironic swimming pool and other facilities for water sports. Guests will be able to take a lift from the water level of the hotel up to the "extreme sports" center at the top of the quarry for rock climbing, bungee jumping, and other sky-high daredevilry.

The existing landscape already provides plenty of waterways upon its flat rice-farming country to draw further attraction to the hotel. For sustainability, workers will implement green roofing for the structures above ground level and geothermal energy extraction. In order to maintain the location's "garden city" theme, only the buildings in the business district may exceed heights of four stories. Several linear parks will also be included, as well as a central park.

The completion of the Songjiang Hotel is expected for May 2009. There has been no word yet on room rates; no doubt patrons will have to take the financial plunge to enjoy this watery paradise.

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The Millionaires on the Floss