Texto en inglés.

Temporary ice hotels materialize each winter in frigid northern towns from Russia to Canada. As temperatures rise in the spring the structures melt back into the earth. Now Dubai is poised to get its first year-round ice lodge, Blue Crystal. And considering the amount of energy needed to keep a man made iceberg under 32 degrees in scorching summers on the Persian Gulf, it’s almost amusing to hear Blue Crystal touted as sustainable.

A growing trend in Dubai architecture seems to be the creation of not only the utmost in luxury, but of the impossible, improbable, and downright outrageous. Dubai’s arid desert climate doesn’t easily lend it to ice sculptures–especially not ones with 6 stories of luxury entertainment including an underwater lounge and ballroom. The German design duo Frank and Sven Sauer claim that Blue Crystal will harness the world’s natural energy sources, keeping it self-sufficient. It will supposedly be powered by solar cells embedded in the icy facade and employ an -energy recycling system-.

So far it isn’t clear how much energy the structure will be able to produce and how that will be distributed amongst lounges, cafes and the most massive task of keep the ice frozen. Even if it does manage to stay off the grid I’m not convinced that a refrigerated iceberg in the middle of the desert counts as sustainable architecture.

Blue Crystal, el nuevo concepto iceberg de Dubai [Sven y Frank]. Click aquí o en la imagen para ver albúm.

Didn't find the floating structures good enough to make your abode in the days to come? Look at the swimming world of ice, located offshore Dubai, by the two Sauers [Sven and Frank] that I'm sure will offer a thrilling dwelling to the residents as well visitors from all across the globe. Hailed as -Blue Crystal-, the swimming world features the bright variety and beauty of water. Combining the natural organic forms with the elemental structure of ice, the Blue Crystal blends the Arabic ornamental style with the Crystal world, creating an ace atmosphere on the tranquil sea surface. Aims to discover the fascinating connections between water, light and sound, the Blue Crystal, exploring the extravagance of form, connects architecture with the elements water. Comprising a multiplicity of luxurious restaurants, an underwater lounge and a ballroom on five levels, the Crystal world moves the visitors, far away from the hectic city life, to a blue landscape of ice that seems to be an emblem of silence.

Presenting a flexibility of location, the Blue Crystal touting a self-sufficient energy system shifts [from one place to another] on water like an iceberg, fulfilling its basic needs without relying on the mainland. The floating structure makes use of glassy cylinder that infiltrates the organic areas to make the structure look like a swimming iceberg, while flooding the inner cubicles with natural light via a tunnel of light. When exposed to the suns, the crystal embedded walls of the blue lounge area, moving the guests in an irresistible silence of a subaqueous world, shines like a diamond. In addition, the Blue-Lounge area is adorned with interactive tables that integrating a watery surface [moving on pitch] to let the guests use an interface to play with the sound waves.

The Blue Crystal, integrating a tracking system, is capable identifying the footprints of the visitors, in specific areas, to leave their mark on the organic surroundings by projecting the footprints on the ground behind them. As soon as the dusk become evident on the horizon, the structure transforms into a splendid illumination, which keeps changing after each hour like a giant timepiece, giving a magnificent view to the spectators on the mainland. Interconnected with the mainland via a shining buoy string, reached regularly by shuttles, the floating retreat harnesses natural resources to meet its energy requirements, thanks to an intelligent solar system [embedded within the outer skin of the structure], together with an individual energy recycling system. While on the other hand, the cooling system of the structure works separately, possibly making use of natural ventilation.

Blue Crystal, el nuevo concepto iceberg de Dubai [Sven y Frank]. Click aquí o en la imagen para ver albúm.

If you believe that luxury doesn't go hand in hand with sustainability, the Blue Crystal makes a bold statement by tossing up a green yet luxurious retreat.

There are temporary ice hotels in the freezing northern towns of Russia to Canada that melt back to the Earth when spring sets in. But Dubai is poised to have an all round ice hotel Blue Crystal. However you will need enormous energy to keep this in solid state especially in the Middle East where temperatures reach as high as 60 degrees and it is also amusing to hear that the Blue Crystal will be sustainable. The German design duo Frank and Sven Sauer claim that Blue Crystal will harness the world’s natural energy sources, keeping it self-sufficient. It will supposedly be powered by solar cells embedded in the icy facade and employ an energy recycling system. So far no one has told us how much energy it will be able to produce and how it will be distributed amongst lounges, cafes, and also the massive task of keeping the iceberg frozen. Somehow I am not convinced on the eco-friendliness of this project. Could be total hoax or just putting dust in the environmentalists’ eyes.