Architects MVRDV have unveiled proposals for a giant greenhouse on the outskirts of Amsterdam with a flower-covered hotel inside.
The Flowerbed Hotel will be located beside a theme park devoted to flowers in the town of Aalsmeer.
The building comprise several stacked volumes housing 280 hotel rooms, a fitness suite and a business conference centre.
Flowerbeds will fill the hotel lobby to create a large indoor garden, while more plants will grow over walls behind the glass.
Sun collectors, windmills and underground thermal stores will provide energy and heating for the building.
Some other recent proposals from MVRDV include a museum shaped like balloons and offices with letters of the alphabet cut out of the facade - see more projects by MVRDV here.
Here's a little more text from MVRDV:
MVRDV design Flowerbed Hotel, Aalsmeer, Netherlands
Project developer Kloos2 presents today the MVRDV design of the Flowerbed Hotel in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. The 19.500m2 Hotel and conference centre devoted entirely to flowers will be located next to the future Bloomin' Holland theme park and business centre. The Hotel with 280 rooms will include 2.100m2 flowerbeds and host tourists and business travellers.
Flowerbed Hotel Aalsmeer: a series of flower crates stacked inside a green house
Flowerbed Hotel will be located next to the main entrance of the future Bloomin' Holland theme park and business centre in Aalsmeer. The building is composed of a series of stacked volumes inside a greenhouse. The volumes hold the program of 280 rooms with a floral theme, 1.600m2 conference centre, 550m2 fitness centre and spa, 2.100m2 flower beds, 1.100m2 services and 140 parking spaces. The stacking of volumes underneath the greenhouse shell results in a diverse and spacious lobby with a public flower garden.
Inside the lobby 2100m2 of flowerbeds will be realised
The lobby is divided into three zones: a public zone for day visitors, a more private zone for hotel guests and a mixed zone. All areas are connected through a semi-public route. The hotel aims for business travellers as well as tourists and offers services from conference centre to souvenir shops and a spa and fitness centre.
Kloos2 presented the design to the director of the regional development corporation Green Park Aalsmeer, Mr. Gregor Heemskerk, who said "The Flowerbed Hotel is a special development which we support warmly. The hotel is in line with the ambitions of Bloomin' Holland and will give a valuable impulse to the entire regional development. We are extremely happy with the result."
Flowerbed Hotel, main entrance
The building will feature sun collectors, windmills and underground warm and cool storage resulting in an excellent energy performance despite the glass hood. MVRDV is currently realising the Spijkenisse Public Library with a similar energy concept. Kloos2 will use the design to find investors and tenants.