Radical Innovation, an annual competition that seeks game-changing ideas in the hospitality industry, has announced the finalists for its 11th edition. Five projects will be presented to a live audience at the New Museum in New York on 4 October, with a judging panel subsequently determining the grand-prize winner. They are:
Vertical Micro-Climate
Using natural thermal and solar technology, this mountain-top resort concept near the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, provides a warm and bright year-round indoor/outdoor tropically-inspired environment for guests. Resort grounds are naturally brightened by concave-shaped towers that use reflective guardrail systems to redirect additional light downward. Natural light apertures on the deck slab refract additional light into the suites and indoor amenity spaces. Geothermal heat warms cliff-edge pools, while greenhouse-like pool cabanas make the retreat space enjoyable even in a wintry climate.
Hyperloop Hotel
This innovative hotel concept uses sustainable, modular design in the form of shipping containers that double as traveling guest suites. Outfitted for luxury, the containers are customizable in terms of layout and design. Guests may travel and dock at one of 13 hotel destinations across the United States. The entire experience may be managed via a customized app.
Garden House
Built with Douglas wood, the Garden House contains an inner shell of double-glass and is topped by a steel roof. The outer shell is fully insulated, and the space is heated by a small, efficient Norwegian wood stove. These qualities combine to eliminate the need for artificial climate control, making the dynamic cabin adjustable to all seasons and climes—eliminating the waste of energy and dissolving the barrier between the indoors and outside.
Living the Till
A unique treetop hotel resort concept, Living the Till, involves a temporary nomadic structure, which allows for seasonal inhabitation in remote areas. Hovering 30 feet above the forest floor, the structure features a mesh platform supported by a series of cables installed by a team of climbers. Due to the abode’s verticality, there is minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Entirely suspended in nature, not only are the views spectacular, but this concept encourages a sustainable lifestyle as well with natural ventilation, composting methods and access to natural resources.
Play Design Hotel
Conceived as an inhabitable design gallery, Play Design Hotel functions as both an incubator and living lab for local designers. The idea connects local designers to international travelers, who, in turn, are connected to the country’s culture through design. Interior furnishings, fixtures, and accessories selected from local brands that boast cultural significance or interesting narratives are carefully curated in the rooms for lodgers to experience firsthand.
