Cornwall’s Eden Project is planning a new hotel with geothermal swimming pools
The Eden Project is planning a new hotel, with the proposed site featuring swimming pools heated by underground hot rocks.
His new accommodation would be on site at the eco-focused visitor attraction at Bodelva, near St Austell in Cornwall.
The Eden Project’s co-founder, Tim Smit, wants to use locally sourced, natural and recycled materials in its construction, and these components would come from suppliers within 30 miles.
Mr Smit shared the plans while speaking at the 77th annual Oxford Farming Conference 2023 on January 5.
He said, “We will build a hotel in Eden. It will be accommodation for the largest hot water pools in mainland Europe.”
The Eden Project is a sustainability-oriented charity and social enterprise that aims to educate people about environmental issues such as the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution.
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A CGI design for the new hotel (Eden Project)
Formerly a clay pit, this massive visitor destination opened in 2001 and houses plant ecosystems in huge dome-shaped conservatories.
The Eden Project created an underground well to generate low-carbon heat and electricity using geothermal energy. However, these functions are currently not used.
In addition, the charity and social enterprise likely plans to add a second well and solar power system to provide energy independence for both the project itself and thousands of neighboring properties.
A spokesman for the Eden Project said living in Cornwall: “The Eden Project Hotel will be an example of regenerative tourism and positive social impact, aiming to make it climate positive – beyond net zero.”
“To achieve this, the design will be influenced by new building technologies that can reduce the overall carbon lifecycle of the building and operations,” the statement continued.
“Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is one such technology that could be exploited.”
Plans for the Eden Project Hotel were initially put on hold due to the pandemic, with development and production work scheduled to resume during 2023 and into 2024.
The Eden Project has been contacted for comment.
https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/cornwalls-eden-project-plans-new-hotel-with-geothermal-swimming-pools-42283310.html Cornwall’s Eden Project is planning a new hotel with geothermal swimming pools
