Real gem: Design for a luxury hotel in China

Will this project ever be realized? It is entirely possible, for the larger-than-life amethyst is meant to give an unmistakable face to an entire hotel chain. An amethyst druse served as inspiration to Amsterdam’s NL Architects for their unusual design. Amethyst, like other gemstones, is attributed with healing powers; perhaps a stay at the luxury hotel could have a similar effect. The design sees the building not only styled as an amethyst, but actually constructed like an opened geode featuring a stone outer shell and – as windows – crystalline structures in varying shades of violet and purple. If the design is accepted, the first hotel of the chain will be built on Ocean Flower, an artificial island currently under construction north of Hainan, China. While it is a bit bizarre, it certainly provides an interesting alternative to more conventional accommodations.