The proposed Hersham Golf Club hotel and spa, as seen
from above-ground
London’s Hersham Golf Club has joined forces with
international hotel and resort architects RearsdonSmith to
submit a proposal for a five star
subterranean hotel. Their objectives were to design a
sustainable luxury hotel and spa that would meet the
requirements of London’s Green Belt. In working with the area’s
strict planning guidelines, the team came up with the idea to
build all 200-plus guestrooms underground.
“The design fulfills the requirements of the brief for a
bespoke five star hotel while returning hard standing to the
Green Belt and improving the physical layout and visual
attraction of the entire site," stated
RearsdonSmith designer, Matthew Guy. "It represents a
commercially viable solution to developing in the Green Belt and
is, we believe, a world-first.”
The design also incorporates a living green roof, which
merges with the on-site golf course landscape and surrounding
woodlands. The current car park will be re-created underground,
only leaving the single level club house, reception and
restaurants above ground. The underground design incorporates
three “rings” of guestrooms, all built around an internal 800
square-meter (8,611 square-foot) garden and courtyard. This
design will also allow natural light to flood through to the
guestrooms, minimizing the need for artificial lighting.
The building has been designed with a minimal carbon
footprint model, drawing upon heat exchangers and ground source
heat pumps, along with gray water recycling and rainwater
storage.
“Our vision is to create a stunning boutique hotel and spa
destination that will be truly unique and prestigious," said Mr.
Cahit Atasoy, CEO of Arkin Group, which owns Hersham Golf Club.
"It will blend into the natural woodland setting and enhance and
increase the level of green landscape.”
Via
Inhabitat
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