Scultptural Skeleton

In one of Asia’s most popular entertainment destinations, Zaha Hadid Architects turns abandoned foundations into a masterpiece of woven space and structure.

In Cotai, Macau, the foundations of what was to be a condominium tower were left abandoned. What was one’s misfortune has now been transformed into the City of Dreams Resorts’ newest flagship hotel, Morpheus. The 40-storey, 770 guest-room hotel was officially opened on 15^th June, 2018, and has set the record for the World’s first free-form, high-rise exoskeleton.

Zaha Hadid Architects designed the Morpheus as a simple extrusion of the existing abandoned foundations. The rectangular footprint is defined by two internal, vertical, circulation cores that are connected at podium and roof levels. With a central atrium that runs the height of the hotel, the architects were able to maximise the number of rooms with external views and guarantee an equal room distribution on either side of the building. In between the three breath-taking, free-form voids that traverse the atrium, a series of bridges create unique spaces for the hotel’s restaurants, bars and guest lounges by renowned chefs including Alain Ducasse and Pierre Hermé.

Inspired by the fluid forms found within China’s rich traditions of jade carving, Morpheus’ design has utilised innovative engineering and formal cohesion to create dramatic public spaces and generous guest rooms. While navigating Morpheus in one of the twelve, high-speed, panoramic lifts, guests can marvel at the dynamic interior. The detailed and refined architectural aesthetic is continued into the 770 rooms, suites and sky villas, as well as civic spaces, meeting and event facilities, gaming rooms, retail stores, modern art gallery, spa and rooftop pool; all of which include the highest quality furnishings and cutting edge technologies.

Not just an exquisite spectacle of futuristic architecture, Morpheus has also considered its environmental footprint. High performance glazing minimizes solar gain, while air conditioning units have only been used in high traffic areas, and energy-efficient air handling units as well as water-to-water heat pumps recover and reuse existing resources. Local expertise and equipment were also procured locally to the highest international standards for the hotel’s exterior panel fabrication, and an intelligent building management system responds in real time to usage and environmental conditions to minimise the entire buildings energy consumption.

Named after the Greek God of Dreams, Morpheus provides guests with an enlightened vision of the future of building design, both inside and out. In true Zaha Hadid style, Morpheus is a dream world where innovation meets imagination.

“Macau’s buildings have previously referenced architecture styles from around the world. Morpheus has evolved from its unique environment and site conditions as a new architecture expressly of this city,” says Viviana Muscettola, ZHA’s project director.

“Morpheus offers a journey of the imagination. From the curved exterior to the dramatic interior spaces, it pleases the eye and excites the senses: a contemporary masterpiece to be enjoyed by many generations to come,” says Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts.

Morpheus Hotel
Client: Melco Resorts and Entertainment
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)

For more information, visit Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).