A paradise for birds and bird-lovers alike, the birding hotel by Morris Architects turned out to be the runner-up for the 2009, Radical Innovation Competition which sought creative ideas for hotels. This prototype will definitely not end up in the list of great ideas that had potential because one of the organizers of the competition, Hospitality Design Magazine, along with the John Hardy Group ( a leading hotel developer) attempts to pitch the winning ideas to top hotel developers around the world. Thus, the great idea with potential latent has all the chances of making it patent and real! And when that happens, the boutique hotel will not only attract birders but also those in love with nature.
The success of such a venture is not hard to predict because, as a hobby, birding is on a rise. For instance, in the US alone, the number of enthusiasts with birding as a hobby has risen from 46 million in 2003 to 27.8 million in 2007! And add to this the fact that the Baby Boomers, who command almost 60 percent of the nation's wealth, have taken up seriously to this hobby. Combine those numbers with the growing hospitality industry and the term- SUCCESS - can be seen inscribed boldly on the concept of the birding hotel.
Till now, the available hospitality spaces for birders included either a camping lodge, a local motel or a trailer in the woods. Convenience of adjacency to the birding site was the only criterion. This concept tries to integrate a luxurious living alongside such birding sites, making the whole experience a delightful and unforgettable one. The design ensures that the pastime will be a great experience for the professionals, naturalists and hobbyists alike.
The construction involves great planning and expertise. The foremost job would be to locate a probable site and then evaluate it for sustainability and constructability. This would involve not only the structural engineers, mechanical engineers and other typical consultants, but also experts like ornithologists, geologists and environmental scientists. Birds can either be resident or migratory. Usually, birders have to travel to different places to observe different birds. The attempt would be to find a centralized location to act as a hub for all birds. Thus, the project will stretch the intelligence and resources of all these expert groups for sure!
The designs for such a hotel have been made for two extremely different climes. While one involves a hotel in the cold and dry Alaskan region, the other one involves the same hotel in hot and humid Costa Rica. Needless to say, everything else about the hotels will have to be changed to suit these climate demands.
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