Reefworld

Architect Richard Hywel Evans has unveiled designs for “the world’s first floating hotel” off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Replacing an existing structure, Reefworld will combine a hotel giving guests access and exposure to the reef with education and research facilities.
The uniquely sculptured structure will feature a learning centre, complete with a marine life ‘touch pool’, supported by a laboratory and charitable scientific research body conducting reef and coral research. The AU$20m project is being run by Fantasea, the largest day cruise operator in the Whitsundays region.

In addition to world-class diving and snorkelling facilities there will also be two separate safe pools and an underwater viewing gallery from which guests can observe the reef itself and both pools.

Eight ‘Reefsleep’ cabins will feature underwater bedrooms and bathroom areas with walls of windows into the ocean. There will also be an underwater spa, as well as a restaurant,  swim-up bar, barbeque area, and rooftop terrace.

Developing a hotel on the Barrier Reef – the world’s single biggest coral reef system created by living organisms – is likely to attract criticism from environmental groups, but Hywell Jones insists the development will be fully sustainable: “Large enclosed rotating roof turbines, solar panels and underwater trickle charge generators that exploit the tide will continuously generate power for Reefworld, eliminating any dependence on non-renewable energy or the possibility of accidental damage to the reef. The entire development is floating, so no new foundations need to be built on the sea bed,” he says.

The hotel also has the ability to protect itself in the event of a cyclone via an innovative system of huge ballast tanks underneath the main structure that can be filled with water so that the structure semi-submerges to avoid damage. Reef World is due to begin construction shortly and is expected to be complete by summer 2010.

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