5 Weird and Wacky Hotels Currently Planned for Construction

From floating structures to constructions deep beneath the earth, oddly located — and strangely shaped — hotels may be cropping up soon all over the world. These multimillion-dollar endeavors are seemingly striving to outdo each other to distinguish themselves. By aiming to merge with the land or sea around them in innovative ways, they all hope to attract a luxury clientele — that is, if they ever get built. These sorts of projects frequently fall victim to any number of financial and logistical roadblocks. Nonetheless, here’s a quick rundown of five of the most unusual prospects:

Krystall Hotel
Tromso, Norway

Once completed, the 120-meter-wide Krystall will certainly be the world’s largest snowflake. The 86-room hotel, designed by the architecture firm Dutch Docklands, will float in the chilly water of Norway’s fjords, but inside, guests will be able to experience all the amenities of any luxury accommodation — including heat. The property will also feature glass roofs through which guests will be able to view the Northern Lights. And while the hotel could sway from 6 to 10 feet to each side, guests are unlikely to feel any major movements.

Greenstar
Maldives

Because a hotel can also float in warmer climates, Dutch Docklands plans on taking its floating concept to the Maldives. Global warming is an especial threat to the island nation — its government once held an underwater cabinet meeting to emphasize the issue. A hotel that hovers on water, then, might be less susceptible to a rising ocean. The 800-room property includes several levels of planted greenery. Furthermore, as Docklands architect Koen Olthuuis explained to CNN, “Building on water brings us new space for expansion, safety against floods and flexibility to adjust developments without demolition whenever needed.”

InterContinental Shimao Wonderland
Shanghai, China

Forget about any competition to build the world’s tallest hotel. It’s a race to the bottom in Shanghai, where developer Shanghai Shimao Property Group is erecting the planet’s deepest “groundscaper,” according to CNN. At the pit of an abandoned quarry mine, the hotel will include 380 rooms and an underwater restaurant at the base. Of the accommodation’s 19 stories, only three will be above ground level. Additionally, the subterranean resort will feature a 60-meter glass curtain to imitate a waterfall.

Dawang Mountain Resort
Changsha, China

A list of what this property doesn’t have would be shorter than what it does. First, there’s the planned 5-star hotel itself, which will offer expansive lake and mountain views. Then there’s the indoor ski slope. And the water park. Plus, an entire “entertainment ice world.” Designed by Austrian firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, the complex is most striking because the architects conceived it as a structure wedged between two cliffs, hanging over a cement-mining quarry pit and lake. This property, though, is still in its design phase.

Oryx Hotel
Qatar

In 2022, Qatar will host the World Cup. However, it currently lacks enough hotel rooms to accommodate expected visitors, a source of much criticism. Recently, Finland’s Sigge Architects proposed a luxury floating hotel. According to Arabian Business, once the World Cup ends, the entire building can be moved to a different location — since sewage treatment and power generation are independent — perhaps to cater to another event.

[Photos: Dutch Docklands / Shimao Property Group / Coop Himmelb(l)au / Sigge Architects]