Below the surface, in a former rock quarry, a five-star resort is currently being built with almost all floors below ground level. Located in the Songjiang district (close to Shanghai) in China, the InterContinental Shimao Wonderland will stand 19-stories tall, with 16 of them below ground!
Along with 380 hotel rooms, the unique building will incorporate conference facilities for up to 1,000 people. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guest rooms facing a 33 ft deep aquarium, and the lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports center for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel.
The stunning concept comes from Atkins Design firm, who were inspired by the natural water and landscape features of the quarry. The 380-room hotel is expected to open by late 2014 or early 2015 and will cost around $320 per night for a standard suite.
Atkins' website
via [Neatorama], [E-Architect], [CNNgo]
