We’ve been regular in showcasing some of the most eco-fantastic inventions and architecture in the recent past. Be it conceptual or under construction, these buildings did wonderfully well in making sure that our future generations live in skyscrapers that would be self-sufficient and carbon neutral. Staying in green houses is something we all want, but some designers took their designing skills another step forward by designing some luxuriously green hotels, which can change the way we stay when outdoors. Here is a list of 10 such hotels and designs that do add a touch of green in the hospitality industry:
• Bardessono Hotel, California:
Fitted with rooftop solar panels and various recycled materials used in its construction, Bardessono is being referred to as the “Greenest luxury hotel in America.” The project involves flat solar panels, water conservation systems, salvaged and locally grown walnut flooring and recycled construction materials. The linen provided to the guests is all organic and the hotel is kept clean using organic cleaning materials. Organic waste is composted on site using a composting system, and efforts have been integrated to minimize solar waste.
• Jumbo Hostel, Stockholm:
The Jumbo Hostel is a luxurious hotel designed by refurbishing an old Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The aircraft hotel carries 25-rooms where each room covers an area of 65 square feet and is furnished with bunk beds. The rooms also feature overhead luggage storage similar to the ones you get in your routine flights, and flat-screen TVs. The fully functional hotel also has a reception area and café. Toilets and showers are at the rear of the aircraft. The most important part of an aircraft, the cockpit, has been transformed into a wedding suite.
• Gaia Anderson Hotel, San Francisco:
This tranquil and beautiful hotel is located at a two-hour drive from San Francisco, and if you happen to reside anywhere in the Bay Area or even San Jose, I suggest you go down and give it a try. You will not be disappointed with the solar-powered facilities, the recycling options available and the way energy and water are conserved to the best possible extent. All this is done without compromising an iota on your comfort or jolly fun.
• Travelodge Hotel, London:
Built from recycled shipping containers, the Travelodge Hotel is the greenest hotel in London. The building will have 307 rooms when it is done and the interiors will look as good as in any other Travelodge Hotel. Those who visit the Hotel will not notice any difference, and if you did not tell them, then they would never know that this was built from shipping containers. Now, that is a smart way to save energy and time!
• Aerohotel, Dubai:
Designed by Alexander Asadov, the Aerohotel is still a concept but once built it will feature an elegant floating island that sits atop an equally stunning support system. The support system of the structure ensures that tons of gravel doesn’t disrupt the peaceful aquatic sea life. The 200 meter wide circular island is held in the air by three arms that are tethered to the bottom of the site. Apart from a hotel the Aerohotel will also house restaurants, cafes and winter gardens. The Aerohotel will be made from transparent materials to ensure maximum natural lighting and minimum environmental impact.
• Songjiang Hotel, China:
The Songjiang Hotel in China is actually going to be built inside a 100-meter-deep quarry. It’s a brilliant eco-sensitive idea, since no land has to be leveled or destroyed in order to build the hotel and it is already well protected from the elements. The building is constructed in such a way that it takes advantage of the already available natural terrain and will use geothermal energy to generate electricity and hot water.
• Wind Tower Hotel, Miami:
Designed by Miami-based Michael Rosenthal, the “Wind Tower” will appeal more than any other project to eco-conscious people, as it embraces almost every effort to be green. It’s an egg-shaped conceptual luxury resort, which can be a landmark in the architectural world. The structure sounds almost completely self sufficient and does not depend upon external mechanical power to maintain its breathing atmospheric conversion system.
• Reefworld Hotel, Australia:
The hotel is set to be opened to tourists and researchers in 2010 and will feature a full-fledged spa and eight glass-walled underwater bedrooms as well as a research facility for coral and reef research and studies. The project is to be headed by British designer and architect Richard Hywel Evans who has just completed a similar project for a hotel off the cost of Sri Lanka, and will feature extraordinary eco-friendly energy generation systems that will use turbines, solar panels and underwater trickle-charge generators.
• Mayland Seaside Hotel, China:
The hotel is currently in the design phase and is due to be completed in 2012-2013. The design provides for wind turbines on the upper portion of the tower and massive array of photovoltaic panels covering the entire south façade. In the basement is a provision to incorporate a fuel cell power generator that would run on clean natural gas to efficiently produce electricity and heat for hot water. The proposed groundbreaking design of the 373-key Mayland Seaside Hotel would make it the first hotel in the world to be completely carbon-neutral.
• Kimpton Hotel, Florida:
Developed by Northstar Resort Enterprise Corporation, the resort will have 138 luxury units and a 5,000-square foot restaurant. The proposed resort will include a 20,000-kilowatt solar array that would provide green electricity for all electricity needs of the resort including the electric golf carts that the resort is supposed to have. The excess energy will be sold back to Florida Keys Electric Cooperative. The resort will also house wind turbines that would power the dock lights, a rainwater harvesting system will also be introduced to collect water for laundry purposes.
