Bensley creating luxury ‘human zoo’ hotel concept for multinational project in Asia, Australia and Africa

– Bill Bensley
Architect Bill Bensley has announced plans for a luxury sustainable 'human zoo' hotel and spa project.
Bensley’s concept will involve guests staying like caged animals within a luxury hotel and looking out onto an expansive wildlife sanctuary park full of rescued endangered animals.
Bensley design studio’s vast 2084-key project named World Wild is comprised of seven hotels spread throughout Asia, Africa and Australia covering a total 654,867sq m.
The concept's inspiration came after Bensley was approached by a Chinese client who wanted to design a zoo with 2000 hotel rooms on a large piece of land.
However, as a strong believer in sustainability, working against green-washing and respecting wildlife, Bensley decided to reformulate the plans.
He visited as many Chinese zoos as possible and then proposed to the client to dedicate 95 per cent of his land for animals to run free, and 5 per cent of the land for people to observe animals and stay confined in “jails” or “viewing cages” - in other words, hotels.
Two Asian hotels will be operated by Hyatt, while Hilton will operate one in Africa, two in Australia and Bensley’s existing Shinta Mani Bensley Collection in Asia. Conrad will operate the remaining World Wild hotel in Africa.
“No two hotels are alike in terms of architecture or experience,” Bensley told Spa Business, “although for all of them the focus will be on the animals which surround the hotels.
“Each hotel has a different story – a DNA which we follow assiduously when designing – based on real history,” he said.
“The Asian hotels are inspired by Bhutan, Ladakh, Nepal and Tibet, which shows in their architecture and in Africa, the two hotels are inspired by termite colonies and the cliff homes of the Dogon and Telem people. The Australian Hotels are inspired by the Gold Rush and the many types of people who flocked to the area in the search of gold, like convicts, settlers and naturalists.”
Owned and invested in by Bensley’s Chinese client Dinglong, World Wild Dzong, China, is the largest hotel and described as a monastic fortress, planned to cover 228,854sq m with 734 guest rooms.
“My dream is that mistreated animals of overpopulated zoos in China could run free here, we’re foreseeing around five to ten million visitors annually,” said Bensley who's appointed a full-time zoologist to help guide the project.
“We’re going to reassign non-predator animals from less fortunate Chinese roadside zoos to create an ecosystem where they can all thrive in a wildlife reserve without cages or predators, which uses natural barriers to separate species which might not get along such as rivers, mountains or forests.”
The hotel will also feature a train that will wind around the animal sanctuary and take people to eight different whistle-stops, where they will experience a range of experiences such as an educational Broadway show about different aspects of wildlife, environmental protection and sustainability.
“I want to set an example that gives animals the respect they deserve”, he continued.
According to Bensley, Horwath conducted a feasibility study and project development will begin in 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
In light of the global pandemic, Bensley believes there will be less, or more conscientious, travel moving forwards, but he believes the trend will be towards places which facilitate a return to nature and help guests reform their connection to it, like World Wild.
“I think projects like this which position themselves as firm and authentic protectors of the natural world and animals will be sought out and become all the more popular,” he said.
“I’ve seen this happening already with my own Shinta Mani Wild resort, where guests are increasingly aware of the threat to biodiversity in the face of things like the illegal wildlife trade, illegal logging and climate change, and want to play an active part in combating it.
“I think now is the start of a brand new era for the eco-hotel!” concluded Bensley.
Bill Bensley China Dzong World Wild sustainable Hyatt Hilton Shinta Mani Bensley Collection Conrad HorwathPositivelyWell Q&A explores COVID-19 impact with architect Bill Bensley
Architect Bill Bensley to speak about sustainability at Global Wellness Summit
Bill Bensley's adventure-themed retreat opens in Cambodia
Bill Bensley creating 13th-century village in the shadow of Yên Tu Mountain
Bill Bensley-designed Cambodian glamping resort will protect wild ecosystems
Bill Bensley’s luxury tented resort to include signature lunar phase wellness treatments


Bjarke Ingels-designed Oakland baseball stadium a step closer

London's Battersea Power Station prepares for major launch

Weiss/Manfredi and Reed Hilderbrand reveal US$250m redevelopment for Longwood Gardens, Philadelphia

Baca Architects submits scheme for floating eco-wellness resort

MVRDV reveal ambitious plans to create Marble Arch visitor attraction for London

Coventry's former IKEA building slated to become arts and cultural centre of international importance

World's first entirely wooden stadium approved for use by EFL

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter and ASP Architecture create hidden nature retreat inspired by hygge and Nordic hospitality

Zaha Hadid’s Opus building houses spa designed by The Wellness

Meow Wolf creates mind-blowing Las Vegas attraction – Omega Mart

BRC selected to design new World Food Center – will explore sustainability and global food supply

Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens with luxury spa at Japanese alpine ski resort

Scott Brownrigg-designed Museum of Military Medicine in Cardiff given planning approval

Work starts on US$898m e-sports arena in Shanghai

Gyms added to the mix for new super-luxe retail roll-out

OMA designs Miami Beach's ReefLine – a seven mile-long underwater sculpture park

Ole Scheeren and Shigeru Ban team up to design art and cultural destination in Hangzhou

FIFA files criminal complaint over funding of €459m world football museum

ReardonSmith leads design of Heya – a hotel room concept offering personalisation for each guest

Disney reveals first visuals of ambitious Star Wars attraction – including designs for hotel 'pods'

Flaxmill Maltings – the world's first cast-iron framed building – is to be redeveloped as a visitor attraction by Mather & Co

LVMH announces Bulgari Hotel for Miami Beach, with design by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

Technogym opens retail store in Los Angeles

AZPML and UKST win competition to design Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture

Delos partners with TPP Capital to advance access to health and wellbeing solutions in urban communities

The Well creates integrated wellness retreat in New England countryside for Auberge Resorts

Architects 10 Design reveal plans for ambitious Edinburgh city centre plans

Perth's Boola Bardip museum opens in new AU$400m building designed by Hassell and OMA

UK Government's £1bn scheme to decarbonise is 'a huge opportunity' for the leisure industries

Museum devoted to the history of the US Army opens its doors
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates