The Eden Project‘s co-founder Sir Tim Smit has confirmed plans to build a hotel at the eco-tourism attraction in Cornwall using local materials sourced from within 30 miles.
Eden’s plans for a 109-bedroom sustainable hotel were put on hold during the pandemic but have been resurrected, Smit told the Oxford Farming Conference (via CornwallLive).
“We’re going to build a hotel at Eden,” said Smit. “It’s going to be accommodation for the greatest hot water pools in mainland Europe.”
The Eden Project is working with Wasp, an Italian company that constructs buildings using clay, soil and 3D printing. Other materials such as hemp may also be used.
“Exemplar of regenerative tourism”
According to Smit, the Eden Project has drilled a well as it is exploring the potential to generate low-carbon heat and electricity from geothermal power.
The new hotel, a spokesperson for the Eden Project told CornwallLive, will be “an exemplar of regenerative tourism and positive social impact, with the aim of making it climate positive – beyond net zero”.
“To achieve this, the design is being informed by emerging construction technologies that can reduce the overall carbon life cycle of the building and operations. Additive manufacture [3D printing] is one such technology that could be harnessed,” they added
“The Eden Project in Cornwall is a demonstrator site of climate positive solutions including the built environment.
“Evaluating the benefits of additive manufacture using locally-sourced natural and recycled materials is something that Eden will be exploring as the hotel designs evolve.”
The spokesperson said the plans are expected to progress in 2023 and 2024 as the Eden Project works through the design and development process.
In addition to its new UK sites, the Eden Project is developing a series of green attractions across the world, from South America to Australia.
Images: Eden Project
