Floating 'Slinky' Hotel Can Survive Rising Seas

by A.K. Streeter

from http://www.treehugger.com/

Rendering courtesy of Remistudio.

Remember Biosphere 2? Well, fast forward to the Ark, designer Alexander Remizov's floating (or not) eco-friendly, energy-generating bubble hotel.
Remizov came up with the Ark's plans as part of a program on architecture and disaster relief through the International Union of Architects (UIA). According to the Remizov's Remistudio web site, the Ark is designed as: "an integrated energy system with an uninterruptible power supply using alternative energy sources." And instead of glass and steel, the Ark is made of durable 'self-cleaning' and reportedly recyclable plastic panels.


The Ark mimics Biosphere in its attempt to create a self-sustaining, oxygen-generating building. Rendering courtesy of Remistudio.

According to this Spiegel International article, the Ark would be built around a central, lightweight pillar connecting both to roof-top wind generators and heat pumps, as well as to energy storage and thermal conversion units in the basement. Remizov also plans to have a 'tornado' energy generating spiral at the top of the central pillar.


Rendering courtesy of Remistudio.

The dome-shaped Ark, constructed of wooden arches falling out from the spire, steel cables, and transparent Ethyl TetraFluoroEthylene (ETFE) plastic (instead of glass) is made to be able to withstand earthquakes and stay afloat in the event of floods or rising seas. Remizov said on the web site that the ETFE foil shell of the building would also serve as a solar hot water collector as well as gutters to trap rainwater for us.


Rendering courtesy of Remistudio.

Remizov collaborated with a German design and engineering firm and the Moscow-based scientist Lev Britvin, who, according to Remizov, has developed energy-saving solutions for space stations. The company is now searching, according to Spiegel, for investors to make the design a reality.
Remizov also told Spiegel that prefabricated sections of the hotel would make construction possible in three to four months nearly anywhere in the world. Perhaps his design firm needs to take a page from the Chinese construction company that erected this hotel in 6 days.
The Ark would contain 150,000 square feet of living space.

Top 5 Incredible Eco-Hotels and Hostels of the World

July 23, 2009

Top 5 Incredible Eco-Hotels and Hostels of the World

by Haily Zaki

As summer hits its stride many might be opting for the stay-cation this year, but for those adventurous green travelers headed out into the world to do some eco-exploring, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best eco-hotels and hostels around the world! From high-flying airplane hostels to tranquil eco-lodges to stunning hotels made from reclaimed industrial materials, there’s a world of incredible eco-accomodations out there - read on for our top 5 picks. Happy Travels!

5. Shipping Container Travelodge, Uxbridge, UK

Travelodge lands in the top 5 for its Uxbridge outpost, built from 86 different shipping containers by Verbus Systems. While the rooms and exterior cladding may make this look like any other motel, the modular construction process by which it was built saved considerable time, money, and materials - so much so that the savvy global motelier is planning to erect a 307-room version at Heathrow for a savings of up to 10 million pounds ($18.6 million). Once it’s built, the Heathrow shipping container motel will make the perfect first night’s stop for a green traveler on the move.

Travelodge Shipping Container hotel >

4. Cozy Dutch Wine Cask B&B, Stavoren, Netherlands

Once in Europe, the cozy De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel in the Netherlands is a must-see for the green traveler. These giant 14,500 liter casks once flavored thousands of bottles of Beaujolais. Today, they offer guests a good night’s rest and a great story to tell friends. Rather than being destroyed, the four casks were salvaged and transported from France to Holland where they now have a second life as modest, self-contained accommodations for travelers (and their pets). The giant barrels house sleeping space for two people and a sitting room. Private bathrooms are attached.

De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel >

3. Three Camel Lodge, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

From there it’s a long but adventurous hop to Inner Mongolia. Deep in the heart of the Gobi Desert is Three Camel Lodge, an eco-resort that is equally devoted to environmental and cultural preservation. Guests stay in traditional Mongolian gers or yurts. Besides supporting efforts to preserve the population of indigenous Gobi flora and fauna, the Lodge recycles organic waste for use as fertilizer at local farms and work with local farmers to raise chickens, pigs, and livestock. They also launched a “No Plastics in the Gobi” program, working with locals and small businesses to encourage the use of cloth bags.

Three Camel Lodge >

2. Gyreum Ecolodge, County Sligo, Ireland

Straight from Middle Earth, the Gyreum Ecolodge is the first lodge in Europe to be awarded the EU Eco Label and a recent finalist for the LAMA Awards as the Best Ecofriendly Building. This 100 ft diameter solar and wind powered circular fort is half buried in the County Sligo earth and constructed from renewable resources. Did we mention that it’s also aligned to three solar events and points towards surrounding megalithic cairns? Accommodations are simple but perfectly adequate. Hobbits not included.

Gyreum Ecolodge >

1. Jumbo Hostel in Stockholm, Sweden

We head a bit farther north to visit the Jumbo Hostel, an eco-hostel that soars to the top of our list this summer. This 747-200 logged countless miles during its years of service but an early retirement to the landfill is not in the stars (or skies) for this particular plane. The jet now houses weary travelers in compact 6 square meter rooms. Some lucky visitors may even get to sleep in the cockpit, and soon more rooms will be added to the mechanical part of the plane. The interiors are decorated in simple and modern Scandinavian style and still feature the original lounge and first class seating.

Jumbo Hostel >

An honorary mention goes to one of the best not-yet-built eco-hotels, the Oil Rig Platform Resort and Spa designed by Morris Architects for the Radical Innovation in Hospitality Design Competition. This smart design would take the oil rig, one of the most recognizable icons of dirty energy, and re-invent it as an eco-haven powered by completely renewable energy sources.