OBMI's 'new model for urban tourism' wins the 2022 Radical Innovation Award

A conceptual design from international hospitality specialists OBMI has taken home the top prize as part of this year’s Radical Innovation Award.

The firm’s "Aera Vertical Resort" proposal beat out two other finalists named earlier in the month for the award’s 16th edition.

Featuring a porous, glass-canopied volume that encases a vertical garden and program of seven distinct districts set aside for dining, art, fashion, drama, garden, wellness, and family, respectively, the scheme is intended to reduce the footprint of a traditional park while spurring tourism from inside its hypothetical municipality. 

The resort itself would include a spa, sky deck, and pool, along with different mood-oriented zones. The vacation-like experience is further completed by walking trails, with added greenery that combine to offer what the architects call a “true sense of escape from the stresses and challenges of the metropolis.”

“OBMI has created an attractive resort in an urban location,” John Hardy, Chairman and Founder of The Hardy Group, which oversees the award, said in a statement. “The vertical resort minimizes footprint in areas where land is precious, theoretically reducing environmental impact on surrounding land. The seven districts included in Aera offer a well-rounded experience for guests, increasing demand and travel.”

Turkey-based Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio's Eco Floating Hotel design was named the competition's 1st Runner-Up following a vetting process that saw 80 designs submitted from 20 different countries. 

The open call for entries will begin again in January. More information about the award program can be found here.