Why wonder if we’ll ever live on the moon when it’s being built right here on Earth? Heerim Architects are planning to bring Star Wars chic to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, defining the look with two uber-futuristic buildings to act as markers of the gateway of one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
Facing the Caspian Sea, the buildings are named Hotel Full Moon – a disc with rounded edges and a hole in one of the top corners – and Hotel Crescent, a curving arch similar to a crescent moon – and will mark out an area appropriately named Full Moon Bay. Designed to appear drastically different from different viewing angles – from one angle Death Star and from the other Gherkin – Hotel Full Moon will be a 150 meter-high, 35 story luxury hotel with 382 large rooms.
Hotel Crescent is designed as a counterpoint to Hotel Full Moon, with its column supports being disguised by its arched façade. The two hotels will be joined by three tall residential buildings and a fourth 43 floor office building standing 203 meters tall. If Full Moon Bay can just shake off the ‘Death Star’ vibe, it’s looking to be an amazing development.
Via Treehugger via Skyscraper News)
37 Responses to “Death Star Lunar Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan”
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what a disspointment the last two pictures are, after I read death star i thoughty it was a complete sphere!
And how is this ecologically sound?
Very impressive, but also very impracticable. Though it is one of the fastest growing economies (that’s not because they now have a great economy, but because their economy was really really bad), they cannot (or should not) afford such big projects (what? even here such projects are not an option). They should use the money to create some economic power on the worldmarket, and maybe one day…
And why is this project featured here, I bet there are loads of stuff on these hotels NOT green!
I wonder from where does it comes the money to build these ? ?? – OOh yes Petrol and GAs – two main Azehry resources – and A full Blown Dictator President . the Population can have difficulties to find food – but the COuntry REALLY needs these two hotels !!!
Maybe I’m naive, but are there enough uber-rich people to keep these hotels in business? There are all those man-made islands and the hotel in Dubai and now this.
I cannot judge the design as I am “only” engineer, but I don’t see the point of this post here. Are those hotels eco-friendly in any possible way?
What is going on with death star shaped buildings?
Rem Koolhas has a similar shaped building in Dubai that was published in the New York Times on Monday
Here is the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/arts/design/03kool.html?pagewanted=1
Splendid, very good, Keep going on.
Soon you will see my Floating Electric Generating Bargs with house up above.
Good luck.
Leo Mac Ender
Although this is a mildly interesting project I don’t see why this is featured here.
there is nothing envirnmental about this project. this is just more developer crap with a different wrapper.
That’s no moon, it’s a space station!
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I like the fact that you publish these outlandish projects as well as more sensible ones. I find the whole AbuDabi, Dubai and now improbably Azerbaijan aesthetic a great metaphorical commentary on the spectacular flame out of the oil age.
fantastic – well done this is just what baku needs
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I’m sure it’s possible for Baku and in the next 10 years there’ll be better buldings in Baku. Azerbaijan is on of the best improving countries in Europe.It has high potention, you may check it on the web.In the last 3 years it was built at least 600 new 16 floors buildings only in Baku.You don’t know it?But now you know.Be optimist…
[...] underway. Parks are being upgraded and buildings are being refurbished and finished. According to this website the city can expect a dramatic change in its skyline in the near future. Whether it ever comes to pass or not is a good [...]
As an expat living in Baku, I have to laugh at this. To be fair there are a couple hotels underway that, if they look anything like the pictures, will be very nice. Unfortunately the views will be of a dozen old cranes in a dirty ship yard. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of tall apartment building in various stages of construction, but I would want to live in any of them. Building codes are non-existent, it’s pretty well agreed that the first decent earthquake will bring most of them down. One’s already fallen down killing several workers. Add to that the overall pollution, congestion and myriad other infrastructure problems, and this city has a long hard road ahead if they want to see real improvement. That said, I truly hope they do manage to pull off a major overhaul of this place. There are a few hopeful signs.
Sorry. I would NOT want to live in any of the new apartment buildings.
[...] Although the Heerim Architectures who designed this hotel in Azerbaijan claim that they drew their inspiration for the hotel’s unique architecture from the Moon (and accordingly named the building “Full Moon Hotel”), the hotel’s resemblance to the Death Star is rather striking. So striking, in fact, that Azerbaijan may find itself flooded with glassy eyed Star Wars fans if this hotel were to be truly put in production. Even without this claim to fame, the Full Moon Hotel would surely be flooded by tourists who want a gorgeous view of the Caspian Sea, which the Hotel conveniently overlooks. For more information about the Full Moon Bay, click here! [...]
that\’s a great idea…but as an inhabitant of Baku I think I have right to make such a comment:you know we have old history and rich culture.I like the design of the project but I\’d like the design should be more national.I mean by this way we\’ll save our heritage and it will be more interesting for tourists.couse now it looks like dubai buildings,but I want something ours….
As an inhabitant of Baku I want to do such a remark.I want the design of the building to be more national.because old history and rich heritage of Azerbaijan allows this.it will be more interesting for us as well for tourists.
but this lokks like Dubai.
I have to agree with ant gray here, i thought it was a complete sphere but it isnt… you should modify it
I\’m an inhabitant of Baku city. With respect to these construction projects I\’d say that Azerbaijan needs something to boost and sustain its economy rather than hotels at present becuase population suffer a lot from every day-rising prices and unsolvable, long-standing unemployment problem. These hotels idea would come in line with only a small group of people\’s interest who are at power, but the rest would certainly reject it, as I do.
It is a new way of spoiling the funds of natioanl resources, oil and gas, which the greatest part of the population don\’t benefit from.
I live in Baku myself, and they really have plans for the city….. Baku has schanged a LOT since my fisrst time here March 2007.
Lots of new parks, not so much trash. The city is cleaner and traffic is not as crazy as it was 15months ago.
The bouleward will be extended and the “international port” the shipyard with the old warehouses and cranes will be moved outside the city.
Just outside “Bayal” for those who knows the city…..
I Actually have a belie in this project, because Baku have a lot of beatifulll architecture.
The old city is beatifull and in pretty good condition.
Good luck Baku….. As an tourist atraction, very nice people and a safe city should be a good starting point,
Remeber Baku is an ols city, which was the main “oil capital” of the earth in old times. Lamp oil was the main thing at that time, i think it was the worlds first oil city….
From a guy that has lived in Baku and travells to Baku often….. And maybe more frequent in the future?
terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am telling you as an architect! its terrible! and it will look very bad if they build it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sitting and crying for my Baku……
L.I.
what a joke. since when does baku have architects that smart to pull something like this off. and if they do it will not stand a long time. have fun trying to make something out of Baku because it died compelitely after the war with Armenians. CALL ME A HATER………
weri gut siti baky
baky weri gut siti hotel big pjurufo byldyng its fantastik
I believe, that after some time Baku will be the best city in the world!
very impressing i have to say
I live in Baku too. But i.ve never heard about this plan. and death star and moon.. This hotel is something new.i saw pictrures, but i thought it is just pictures.)
I live in baku, but i’ve never heard about this hotel. i saw pics in interne, but didnt pay attention, because i thought it is just a joke..but now i think it is true..it will be so cool..i like it
Azerbaijan is very beatiful country. AZERBAIJAN i love you.