The latest architectural wonder by Zaha Hadid Architects is Macau’s Morpheus hotel which opens its doors to guests on June 15. the 150,000-square-metre, 40-storey flagship hotel is the final chapter of Melco Resorts and Entertainment’s sprawling City of Dreams resort development, combining casino gaming, shopping and four other hotels located on the Cotai Strip.
The stunning building was designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid and is worth a whopping $1.1 billion. Morpheus is one of the last projects with which she was intimately involved and bears all the hallmarks of the late architects’ signature style, as do other recently completed projects, such as the Generali Tower in Milan.
The structure has that futuristic, otherworldly quality that was integral to so much of Hadid’s work. The exoskeleton, in particular, has a uniqueness to it as it wraps to fit the contours of the building. ‘The carved out volumes allow you to experience the inner and outer faces of Morpheus as you journey through the building,’ explains the project architect Viviana Muscettola. ‘It’s quite fantastic how inside and outside talk to each other.’
The bridge-like structures at the core of the building are utilized as communal dining and lounge spaces while the upper seven floors contain VIP gaming facilities, three pool villas and six duplex villas and a partially covered rooftop swimming pool. Interior design by California-based Peter Remedios takes inspiration from super-yachts with custom-design textiles and furnishings.
On the ground floor, you can indulge your sweet tooth at the Pierre Hermé Paris Lounge or head to one of the property’s three restaurants, two by star French chef Alain Ducasse and Yi, a contemporary Chinese restaurant serving regional Chinese cuisines omakase-style.