Refrigerated beach?

[Planogirl]

Just when you think that you've seen it all... From Daily Mail:

World's first refrigerated BEACH to be built next to luxury hotel in Dubai

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:26 PM on 15th December 2008
The world's first refrigerated beach is to be built at a luxury hotel in Dubai so the filthy rich holidaymakers don't burn their feet on the scalding hot sand.

The revolutionary beach will sit next to the new Palazzo Versace hotel and will include a system of heat-absorbing pipes built under the sand and giant wind blowers, designed to keep tourists cool in the searing 40-50C heat. The hotel, which is due to open late next year or early 2010, will be controlled by thermostats linked up to computers and feature a cooled swimming pool. The refrigerated beach will include a system of heat-absorbing pipes built under the sand and giant wind blowers.

However, the plans have been criticised by campaigners who are infuriated by the potential impact on climate change. Rachel Noble, of Tourism Concern, said: 'Dubai is like a bubble world where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate change, are simply ignored so people can continue destructive lifestyles.'

The lavish project will enhance Dubai's appeal to the celebrity jet-set and increase competition to a region that already houses the world's first seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab.

However, the city's continued expansion will also add to its huge carbon footprint. Each person living in Dubai has a carbon footprint of more than 44 tons of CO2 a year.

Despite the environmental fears, Versace says the beach will be environmentally sustainable. Soheil Abedian, president of Palazzo Versace, said: 'We will suck the heat out of the sand to keep it cool enough to lie on. This is the kind of luxury that top people want.'

A source added: 'The super rich want pure luxury. They don't want to walk
on scalding sand.'

A British firm, Hyder Consulting will oversee the project, and it is hoped the 10-storey hotel will help attract some of the 800,000 Brits who visit Dubai each year.

There is already one Palazzo Versace hotel, operating on Australia's Gold Coast, which has attracted the rich and famous. Fifteen more hotels are in the pipeline.

Artist's rendering:

 

[java]

I checked into flying to Dubai because boy they are doing it up big these days. The flight alone was like $6000!

I am curious to see what this all looks like 10 years down the road.

 

[Planogirl]

It looks like Dubai will be the place to go - that is if anyone can afford it. I wonder if Disney is interested?