Page 13 - Building Journal - April 2014

macau

Design unveiled for the

fifth hotel tower at City of Dreams

(MACAU) The fifth tower at City of Dreams voids will be experienced from within the
will host a new flagship hotel for the City building.
of Dreams complex. Zaha Hadid Architects The rectangular outline of the site is
have taken on the challenge of designing a extruded in a monolithic block, where
unique building structure whilst providing the sculpted void creates a blend of roof
the most stringent performance for the walls and ceilings without distinction of
comfort of its users. traditional architectural elements. The
The result is an unprecedented volume is emphasized with the use of an
combination of structural and formal exposed exoskeleton mesh structure, where
challenges to resolve a highly complex the definition of building itself is pushed
and articulated variety of uses within one towards its boundaries. The expressed
coherent building envelope. structure defines a sensuous and intriguing
The new hotel tower is designed as form while providing the construction
a sculptural element, mysterious and advantage of contributing to the building
intriguing its composition is not referable lateral stability and reduces the internal
to traditional architectural typologies. A structural requirements optimizing the
simple volume is carved by a series of interior layout.
voids to create a complex form, which The shape of the new tower establishes a
reminds an abstract figure of eight or unique relationship with its surroundings. It
double loop. The holes create a unique will become a strong presence and statement
appearance and offer opportunities for within the City of Dreams site as well as an
exciting internal spaces. The underlying urban reference for the Cotai strip, an area
diagram is of two towers connected at which is being interested by a series of new
the podium levels and the roof, with two developments and for which the new hotel
additional bridges from which the external will become a new iconic identity.

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