Underground hotel planned for Surrey
by Tom Walker | 08 Jan 2010
ReardonSmith architects have revealed designs to build a luxury, subterranean hotel and spa at the Hersham Golf Club in Surrey.
Plans for the hotel include 200 underground bedrooms located in three rings, each built around 800sq m garden courtyards.There will also be a luxury spa and restaurants and the total area of the hotel and new golf club will be approximately 16,500 sq m.
Both hotel and spa have been designed to minimise their carbon footprint by using combined heat and power generation, heat exchangers and ground source heat pumps together with grey water recycling and rain water harvesting.
Car parking, which is currently above ground, will also be relocated underground. The existing golf clubhouse and car park will be demolished and replaced by a new clubhouse integrated within the hotel.
Due to its design, the entire development is set back from the local residential area and is positioned within an enclave of existing woodland in such a way that it is hidden from view for local residents.
Arkin Group, which owns the golf course, is hoping to submit a planning application for the project during the spring.
Cahit Atasoy, CEO of Arkin Group, said: "Our vision is to create a stunning boutique hotel and spa destination that will be truly unique and prestigious. It will blend into the natural woodland setting and enhance and increase the level of green landscape."
Matthew Guy, ReardonSmith's project designer, added: "Our concept integrates hotel, spa and golf facilities into a single architecturally exciting and organic composition below and above ground.
"The design fulfils 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. It represents a commercially viable solution to developing in the Green Belt and is, we believe, a world-first."
The Arkin Group is an international leisure and gaming company. It acquired Hersham Golf Course in 2008 and also operates the five star Colony Hotel in Northern Cyprus.
ReardonSmith architects have revealed designs to build a luxury, subterranean hotel and spa at the Hersham Golf Club in Surrey. Plans for the hotel include 200 underground bedrooms located in three rings, each built around 800sq m garden courtyards. There will also be a luxury spa and restaurants and the total area of the hotel and new golf club will be approximately 16,500 sq m. Both hotel and spa have
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