The Floating Retreat: Dubai-Based Architecture Firm's Concept Will Let You Taste Luxury While Hanging In The Air?

There is no doubt that Dubai is a hub for adventure enthusiasts, offering a range of exciting activities to satisfy their thrill-seeking desires. One of the most popular activities is skydiving, where you can jump out of a plane and enjoy a bird's-eye view of the desert and the city. Sandboarding and hot-air ballooning are also popular options for those looking for a more relaxed adventure.

Rock climbing is another option for those seeking a challenge, with both indoor and outdoor climbing walls available. Dune bashing is a thrilling 4x4 experience that takes you on a wild ride over the sand dunes, among others.

But could you imagine floating tents strung between two mountains? It seems like the inevitable next step. Though not yet achieved, this concept could become a reality thanks to Ardh Architects, a Dubai-based architecture firm that recently revealed renderings for a future hotel project named The Floating Retreat.

Dubai based architecture firm has proposed floating tents hanging in the air as a luxury retreat

Ardh Architects

The Floating Retreat, conceived as a series of individual tents suspended between two mountains¡ªcurrently proposed within Sharjah's mountains¡ªaims to "bring luxury and comfort to those who cannot participate in mountain climbing or other adrenaline-filled outdoor activities," according to Omran Alowais, owner of Ardh Architects, as reported by Architectural Digest.

Visitors join the retreat on the ground in one of the tents, which functions as an elevator and transports them up to the platform that spans the area between the mountains. Once on the platform, guests can access their personal tents, which can accommodate up to two people, and are lowered back into the air above the valley.

Ardh Architects

"Using the given controls, guests can modify the suspension of the tents on their own," Alowais says. "The tents are designed for seclusion and can be positioned in a variety of combinations to avoid overlap or proximity to other tents."

Visitors join the retreat on the ground in one of the tents, which functions as an elevator and transports them to the platform.

The design raise some safety concerns

Ardh Architects

Though this isn't the first extreme adventure hospitality endeavour, it does raise serious concerns about the design's safety. According to Alowais, hotel employees and engineers will constantly be on-site and trained to deal with any safety issues that arise, such as fire hazards, trapped pods, or high winds.

The tents are also supplied with twin suspended cords as a safety measure. "If a tent becomes caught, the wires allow the pod to swing to the edge of the mountain, where the guests can be safely removed and carried down to safety," the architect continues.

Visitors would not, of course, spend the entire day dangling in the breeze if the proposal were to succeed.

Ardh Architects' design also includes a mountaintop spa and a ground-level reception area with concierge services, a restaurant, and private guided mountain trips.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.