Margot Krasojević Architects has unveiled their latest fantastical design — a luxury hotel that draws on tidal energy to produce more energy than it needs. Envisioned for Hainan’s Yalong Bay, the Harmonic Turbine Tidal Hotel aims to rework the traditional hotel typology from wastefulness to self-sufficiency and sustainability. Despite its impossibly futuristic appearance, the project has an expected completion date of 2020, which could potentially make it the world’s first energy-positive hotel — beating out Snøhetta’s proposed Arctic Circle hotel by one year.

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Rendering of the hotel on the coastline

Rendering of children playing near the hotel

The Harmonic Turbine Tidal Hotel is designed to be anchored at a “high-energy site” on coastline exposed to high winds and waves. Revolving water turbines partially buried in the sand would harness tidal energy for the hotel. By producing more energy than it needs, the hotel could return surplus energy to the grid and turn an additional profit.

Renderings of the exterior of the hotel

Related: Snøhetta unveils plans for world’s first “energy-positive” hotel in the Arctic Circle

Created in the likeness of a futuristic spaceship, the hotel comprises two interlocking steel-framed volumes clad in aluminum. The semi-submerged hotel offers underwater views in all 30 ensuite spa bedrooms. “The idea behind the hotel came from rock pools and tidal power, to design a hotel which dips into the sea just enough to catch the tide whilst being able to sway in the current,” the architects wrote.

+ Margot Krasojević Architects

Images via Margot Krasojević Architects

Rendering of inside of hotel, which has underwater views

Four designs of the hotel and details on how it is submerged in the land