Vienna-based architecture studio Smartvoll has revealed renderings of a new concept, Land Ahoy. Spanning more than 16,000 square feet, the aptly named hotel and restaurant will float above Austria’s Thalersee lake—not far from the city of Graz.
The proposal would remove a dilapidated existing structure and the artificial coastline. Through unique staging and location, Land Ahoy would renaturalize the shoreline and eliminate the unnatural flood control barrier created by previous developments. A spacious footbridge will merge with a circular ramp to lead swimmers—and skaters during winter—to a courtyard framed by the new building. A hiking trail will also be created to provide access to visitors arriving on land.
“Entering the rotunda in the lake via this underwater tunnel will be an incomparable experience,” says Philipp Buxbaum of Smartvoll. “Once you reach the end of the underwater pathway, you will emerge out of the lake—fully surrounded by water, creating an immersive and unforgettable impression. “Since recreation is the ying to our working yang, we strongly believe that buildings dealing with recreation should go well beyond providing food and a place to sleep.”
