As Asia’s top entertainment destination, Macau saw over 32 million visitors pass through the city in 2017. And now, travelers have a new luxury hotel to spend the night in with the opening of the Morpheus Hotel. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the 770 room hotel is nestled into Macau’s City of Dreams Resort, which is already home to four hotels, 20 restaurants, a casino, and two theaters.
Inspired by the fluid forms of China’s jade carving tradition, the vertical structure features two towers connected by walkways that leave voids in the facades. “These voids create the urban window that links the hotel’s interior communal spaces with the city,” states the firm. With the project, Zaha Hadid Architects expertly took restrictions they were given and executed a masterful piece of architecture. Not only did they have to use existing foundations that were in place for a condominium tower that had never been constructed, they were also limited to a 160-meter (525-foot) building height by local planning codes.
Still, the firm managed to include not only the guest rooms, but amenities like meeting and gaming rooms, a rooftop spa and pool, a restaurant, and a spacious lobby atrium. The exoskeleton that wraps the exterior flows through the interior concept, with cutaways filtering through light and giving dynamism to the space. Twelve glass elevators ensure that guests will enjoy spectacular interior and exterior views as they travel up the towers. By weaving together disparate spaces, the architect ensures that the hotel’s interior remains flexible and open for enjoyment.
“Morpheus combines its optimal arrangement with structural integrity and sculptural form,” shares Vivian Muscettola, ZHA’s project director. “The design is intriguing as it makes no reference to traditional architectural typologies. Macau’s buildings have previously referenced architecture styles from around the world. Morpheus has evolved from its unique environment and site conditions as a new architecture expressly of this city.”
Zaha Hadid Architects was inspired by the forms of Chinese jade carving for the design of the Morpheus Hotel in Macau.
Photo: Ivan Dupont
Photo: Ivan Dupont
Photo: Ivan Dupont
Photo: Ivan Dupont
Interior and exterior exoskeletons allow for large, open spaces to accommodate all guest amenities.
The luxury 770-room hotel is located in Macau’s City of Dreams resort.
“Morpheus offers a journey of the imagination,” says Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts.
“From the curved exterior to the dramatic interior spaces, it pleases the eye and excites the senses: a contemporary masterpiece to be enjoyed by many generations to come.”
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All images via Virgile Simon Bertrand except where noted.
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