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Atkins has won an international competition to design a five-star resort hotel. Set in Songjiang, China, the 400 bed resort hotel is uniquely constructed within the natural elements of the quarry. The innovative design of the 400-bed resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 meters deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guest rooms. It will incorporate conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, a banqueting center, restaurants, cafes and sports facilities.

An aquatic theme runs through the design both visually and functionally. Curved wings of the main body of the guest rooms enclose a naturally lit internal atrium, which uses the existing rock face with its waterfalls and green vegetation. This will be overlooked by guest room balconies and contain restaurants and cafes at the base. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guest rooms facing a ten-meter deep aquarium. The lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports center for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel. This is a fine example of an ultra modern facility co-existing amongst its natural environment.

The project is Atkins eighth design competition win in China this year. It also reinforces the company’s international reputation for exceptional hotel design. The design was the result of collaboration between Atkins’ teams in Bristol and Shanghai. It was led by Martin Jochman in Bristol and involved Paul Rice, Hu Yali, Ding Fang, Zhang Jian and Vivian Chen from Shanghai.