Qatar considers building floating Finnish hotels to handle World Cup demand

A Finnish architecture firm that has developed a space-saving, energy-efficient concept of 'floating hotels' has had a successful meeting with Qatari authorities, reports Kim Eklund and Pekka Maki.

Sigge Architects formed part of a 50-company Finnish business delegation that visited Qatar and the UAE, spearheaded by H.E. Jyrki Katainen, the Prime Minister of Finland.

"We have talked to Qatar, and they are really interested because the concept is green and sustainable," Eklund and Maki told Construction Week Qatar on the sidelines of the trade delegation's visit to Dubai.

The architecture firm has developed the concept of the 'floating hotel' in conjunction with the Almaco Group of Finland, which specialises in marine construction.

Eklund and Maki argue it is a perfect solution for Qatar's huge demand for accommodation for the 2022 World Cup. The modular construction methodology used for the concept can also be applied to labour accommodation and sports venues.

A 'floating hotel' is "a great alternative for areas where all land is fully developed and/or difficult to develop," states the Almaco website.

Eklund and Maki explain that a floating hotel also offers the advantage of being fully customisable, from the number of rooms and types of facilities to the exterior architecture.

Almaco provides a streamlined construction solution for owners/investors, as all construction is carried out elsewhere and a complete final product ready for immediate operation is delivered to the final destination. As sole builder, the company is therefore able to provide a total turnkey solution.

A 'floating hotel' is an independent solution with its own sewage treatment, power generation and recycling possibilities, and therefore is not limited by the infrastructure around it. The concept has been developed by keeping in mind environmentally friendly principles, according to Eklund and Maki.

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