Inspired by the success and growth of Dubai over the years, Swiss entrepreneur Remo Stoffel, chairman of UAE-based facilities management company Farnek,has unveiled the design for what will become the world’s tallest hotel in the Swiss Alps.

Located in Vals, the 7132 resort is designed in collaboration with US-based architect Morphosis, and is estimated to reach a height of 381 m. Once completed in 2019, the new-build will eclipse the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai, which currently holds the record at 355-m tall.

According to Swiss entrepreneur Stoffel, the inspiration for the hotel came from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Due to my involvement with Farnek, I travel to Dubai on a regular basis and I am always amazed at how quickly the city grows and what it has achieved. During its early development, many local, regional and international observers, some more vocal than others, were unsure that Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for Dubai would ever be realised. Undeterred, Dubai stuck steadfastly to its strategy and last year it welcomed around 12 million overnight visitors and is now planning to accommodate 20 million visitors by 2020.”

“That inspired me to realise my own vision, by forming 7132 Ltd, commissioning this stunning design, which will be built in my home town of Vals within four years,” said Stoffel.

The unveiling of the design followed an international competition launched by 7132 Ltd (derived from the town’s Swiss postal code) last June, in which eight of the world’s leading architectural practices contended for the opportunity to design the hotel.
 
The design created by Morphosis was selected for its minimalist approach to help the hotel blend with the mountain landscape at the existing resort campus. The new hotel and arrival is defined by three forms: a podium linking the building with neighbouring structures; a cantilever containing a restaurant, café, spa, and bar – public amenities shared with the town; and a tower holding a sky bar, restaurant, and 107 guest rooms with panoramic views.

With the completion of the hotel, the 7132 resort will feature buildings by three Pritzker Prize-winning architects, including the internationally renowned Therme Vals spa designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and the Valser Path by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, which is slated for completion in 2019. – TradeArabia News Service