Fuel The Future: Poseidon Undersea Resort & The Wind Tower
The Radical Innovation Competition has identified trends in hospitality years before they are brought to fruition. Over the years, the jurors have reviewed concepts such as, glamping, hotels in space, drone travel and more. Futuristic submissions have been received from student visionaries and prestigious design and architecture professionals from over 55 countries. The Poseidon Undersea Resort and Wind Tower, detailed below, are two examples of concepts that introduced a trend years before a version was brought to the market.
Poseidon Undersea Resort - Jean-Claude Carmer, 2007
Poseidon Undersea Resort was presented as the world's first underwater hotel, expected to be built in a lagoon near a private island named Poseidon Mystery in Fiji. The hotel was to be located 40ft underwater and spread across an area of 5,000 acres. Seventy percent of the structure was to be made of acrylic glass, with 51 suites and villas, restaurants, a fitness centre, a spa, and other facilities. Providing all the comforts, convivences of a five-star resort.
“In 2007, Poseidon was a great example of eco-tourism and social responsibility and ESG long before it became an important business initiative. Guests would experience a beautiful natural environment and contribute financially through their hotel fees to replenish the ocean reefs that are suffering due to climate change and ocean pollution. Poseidon would also have grown coral as part of the resort to be utilized to replenish the reefs” - John Hardy
THE WIND TOWER - John Naranjo, MRA Design in partnership with Richard Moreta Architecture
The Wind Tower was artfully designed to offer both intensive functions and an attractive natural environment, expected to consume less energy than a comparable conventional hotel building. The Wind Tower is an architectural habitation; people existing in harmony with the natural environment, while being energy efficient. The tower reduced energy consumption and environmental impact, while reducing running costs, creating a more pleasant living, recreation, and working environment.
“This submission came to Radical in 2009, years ahead of its time. The Wind Tower was the first example, we are aware of, where the sustainability components of the structure are integral with the basic design concept and not subcomponents or add on features. If this could be accomplished, it would open an entirely new world of opportunities to expand design and sustainability.” - John Hardy
