Be prepared to be thoroughly thrilled and mesmerized with this revolutionary hotel concept that allows guests to explore and navigate through exciting terrains – all in the comfort of their hotel room!
Text by Isabelle Pinto | Photography by HOK
Imagine being able to fly to exciting, far-flung holiday destinations such as terraced mountains and exotic islands without even having to leave your hotel room. This is exactly what architecture firm HOK is offering through the designs of Driftscape – an innovative hotel concept that is bound to take the hospitality industry by storm if and when it materialises in the near future.
And it is all thanks to drones – vessels that can fly without a pilot on board. For Driftscape, drones are used to power “flying hotel pods”, allowing them to touch down in diverse locations unattainable to traditional hotels – all whilst being remotely monitored and operated from a base unit on the ground. Guests can therefore just sit back and relax whilst literally travelling in their own hotel room!
What’s more, the human-scale drone pod doesn’t only travel by air but is amphibious as well, with the ability to go on voyages by land and sea. With Driftscape, guests are able to “roam the plains of the Serengeti, hover over the Grand Canyon, or drift through the Pearl Waterfall in China,” say designers Ian Rolston and Randa Tukan.
The futuristic drone hotel would allow guests to enjoy 360-degree views of breathtaking sceneries from a very unique vantage point.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
ROAMING ROOM
The entire design concept mainly comprises two basic parts: the main central hub called “Oasis” and the autonomous “hotel pods” called “Driftcrafts”. The “Oasis” base is said to be able to support up to 20 pods. Each pod unit comes in a compact size of 205 sq ft for two occupants. Inside, you will find a bed, a desk and a simple three-piece bathroom. So, whether you’re still comfortably tucked beneath the sheets, or busy completing some office work (hopefully that’s not the case!), you can begin your journey from exactly where you are.
All you have to do is pre-arrange your individual flight plan with the hotel staff before boarding your pod. Excursion plans can be for up to two to three days. When it is time for your journey, the guest room pod which is initially connected to the Oasis base would detach from it and automatically start the voyage according to your plan. Once the trip is over, the pod would return to the base and reconnect.
The concept is indeed perfect for passive travellers who would just like to take in beautiful sights and sceneries from within a safe, protective vessel; for instance, senior citizens who are physically less capable but who still have an eye for adventure. The young and adventurous, of course, are free to disembark from their pods and explore the surrounding areas on foot. The hotel concept also comes complete with other basic hospitality facilities such as a communal lounge, restaurant, bar and courtyard within the Oasis Base. With an area of 32,500 sq ft, the base would have the capacity to accommodate up to 40 guests and five to seven staff.
LUST FOR ADVENTURE
The inspiration behind this radically innovative concept stems from none other than mankind’s age-old desire to embark on untrodden paths. “Setting off on an adventure – leaving all comforts behind and wandering in pursuit of the unknown – has been a fundamental urge of humankind throughout history,” note the designers. And it was their ambition to fulfil this urge that brought about the design of “Driftscape” as a unique way to go on adventures and experience the world.
The concept was mainly designed for the Radical Innovation Awards, an annual design competition that challenges the hospitality industry to come up with innovative hotel designs. Driftscape, which was designed by HOK’s Toronto office, is one of two finalists for 2016 competition. Although a rather futuristic-looking concept, much of the technology and materials used in the Driftscape’s design already exist, indicating that it could conceivably become a reality in the near future although there are currently no solid plans yet to realize the design.
According to the designers, aerospace alloys are used for the hotel pods to create lightweight, reinforced structures for stability; while transparent, high impact polymers are used for the walls allowing for its extensive 360-degree views toward the outside world.
For navigation in water, marine-grade fiberglass and resin fiber are used to aid buoyancy. The pods are also self-sustaining as they are battery-powered and utilize solar energy when at rest, while water is supplied in the same manner as long-distance aircrafts.
DISCOVER NEW SPACES
As for the safety of guests within the unmanned pod units, the designers give the assurance that the guests and the pods will remain in constant contact with the central base. So, in the event of an emergency, the craft would be guided to the nearest safe location. “A support craft would be deployed to the location depending on the nature of the emergency. Alternatively, the Driftscape can also be remotely guided back to the Oasis if necessary,” they explain.
If the Driftscape does ever materialize in future, the designers estimate that initial prices would cater more towards the luxury market. Over time, however, with more of the technology powering the Driftscape being upgraded further in increased numbers, they anticipate that prices would drop and hence reach a broader audience. And we sure do hope so too. If everyone were given a chance to move around in their own hotel room, travelling would indeed be more convenient, safe and you can reach spaces previously unreachable. You might even be able to make new discoveries while on one of those trips.[/ihc-hide-content]