Canadian entrepreneurs offer an otherworldly resort experience
Canadian entrepreneurs Michael R. Henderson and Sandra G. Matthews, co-founders of Moon World Resorts Inc. (MWR), a Canadian-based architectural design and intellectual property licensor, have proposed a destination resort with a premier of its kind, a spherical reception area in the shape of a moon, which promises customers a trip to the moon, without having to venture into space.
MWR is based in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. The company licenses four MOON Destination Resorts worldwide (known as regional licenses), one in each of the following regions: North America, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, and Asia. From a design and architectural perspective, MOON will build a true sphere, unlike many buildings that claim to be spheres, which actually only have a dome or partial dome structures. The station’s sphere will reach at least 224 m (735 ft) above ground level, while its diameter will be built at least 198 m (650 ft). Licensees in different regions of the world may stretch height and width dimensions in accordance with local laws. According to the co-founders, they are currently reviewing three global architectural groups, one of which will provide full architectural services for the project.
The central idea of the resort is to offer guests the opportunity to visit a specially constructed 4 ha (10 acre) lunar colony, replicating the surface of the moon, which will be housed on the highest level of the resort. The other lower levels will include a convention center, nightclubs, restaurants, lounges, ballrooms and hotel suites, among other spaces, with a total area of 515,000 m2 (5,540,000 square feet) of LEED-Gold certified built environment. All elements will be enclosed, oriented vertically, in a curtain wall inside the spherical outer layer. The designers anticipate that a year-long site-specific planning exercise, followed by 4-year construction, will deliver each MOON site at a cost of $5 billion.
The contractors claim to have been inspired by replicating the “Bilbao effect” that Canadian-American architect Frank Owen Gehry achieved with the grandiose and whimsical Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.
Michael R. Henderson said, “In a world of mediocrity, MOON will set an entirely new standard for build quality, environmental stewardship and operational excellence. MOON will act as the ultimate bridge, allowing everyone to join in the excitement of space tourism. As [Elon] Musk, [Jeff] Bezos and [Richard] Branson brilliantly seeks the next frontier, MOON will provide a dynamic and authentic experience on planet Earth, accessible to all, not just the few. MOON is an integrated, sophisticated, contemporary and unique resort that focuses on next-generation architecture, engineering, design, art and technology”.
