French Prime Minister breaks ground on Euro Disney's 'organic city' resort
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls yesterday afternoon (11 December) attended the breaking ground ceremony for the €700m (US$871m, £554m) Villages Nature, a joint venture between Euro Disney and Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group.
“This tourist destination will develop the local economy and create jobs,” Valls told the audience, including Attractions Management at a ceremony held near the site, about 30km (19m) from Paris and 6km (3.7m) from Disneyland Paris. “Tourists from France, Europe and other continents will come here. From Villages Nature, people can visit Paris, Versaille, the Louvre, Disneyland Paris and further afield.”
The first stage of the Villages Nature eco-destination, costing about €500m (US$622m, £396m), is scheduled to open in summer 2016, with 916 cottages and apartments and 75 per cent of the recreational facilities completed.
A star-studded cast of architects have been invited to participate in designing the innovative "organic city", inspired by the green approaches to architecture pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright and F. Hundertwasser. Leading French landscape architect Thierry Huau is designing the grounds, less than 10 per cent of which will be buildings. Joe Rohde of Walt Disney Imagineering is also overseeing the artistic direction of Villages Nature.
Rendering of the AquaLagoon. Photo courtesy Jacques Ferrier Architectures
The star attraction for Villages Nature will be the 9,000sqm (96,875sq ft) AquaLagoon. Designed by French architect Jacques Ferrier, its tiered pyramid structure – inspired by the site's natural geothermal aquifer – will house one of the largest indoor waterparks in Europe. Wave pools, water slides and an active river will feature alongside an open-air geothermal lagoon. Other attractions include an interactive farm, hanging gardens and adventure play areas.
“The Hanging Gardens and the AquaLagoon are going to be incredible pieces of architecture in their own right,” Villages Nature CEO Dominique Cocquet told Attractions Management. “The project is a huge investment by Euro Disney, Pierre Vacances and others who have invested in the facilities and accommodations, so we are making every possible effort to make the promise a reality.”
Ariel view of Villages Nature site in May 2014. Photo courtesy L’Europe vue du ciel
Phase one continues with a further 241 cottages scheduled to be on site by 2018. Conditional plans are in place to then expand Villages Nature by a further 573 accommodations, bringing the total on the 180 hectare (450 acre) site to 1,730. In fulfilling these aims, by 2022 Villages Nature estimates a visitor turnaround of 900,000 per year, generating tax incomes of €7m (US$8.7m, £5.5m) annually.
Villages Nature will operate a leaseback model for investors. Prices start at €230,000 (US$286,000, £182,000) for a one-bedroom apartment.
Struggling Euro Disney reports €114m net loss for 2014
Walt Disney secures future of Euro Disney with €1bn refinancing
New sustainable resort concept from EuroDisney
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
From climate change to resource scarcity, Exploration Architecture uses biomimicry to address some of the world’s major challenges. Its founder tells us how