Coffey Architects

Coffey Archietcts were invited to undertake a live pitch for a hotel on the moon for Virgin at the RIBA Headquarters in front of an audience at the Guerilla Tactics Conference 2011.

Virgin Eye is located at Sinus Medii which sits on the Moon's nearest point to earth.

Moon explorers will stay at the Virgin Eye resort for 14 days where Earth will gradually change from new earth to full earth. While the guests are on the moon their holiday will comprise of training, exploration and relaxation. During their stay they will become familiar with how the low gravity affects their day to day living. A series of training facilities are located on the lower floor of Virgin Eye. When the guests feel ready they can explore the surface of the moon in their Dust Buggy which is used as their room while they are at the hotel and also as their tent during 'Lunar Camping'. On the upper floor the guests participate in familiar activities that have been redefined by low gravity, offering an exciting, renewed experience.

The Virgin Eye faces the earth at all times and the earth room is located behind the lens to the earth. A place to discuss the earth, global warming, the challenges, the achievements. After a week camping alone, the visitors to the hotel will spend a week in community talking about global issues and ending, finally, with a full earth party.

What does it mean to be all alone, on the moon? The feeling of isolation with the world, our earth in distant view. The project questions how we treat our lonely planet and in reality, if we continue to mistreat it, is the moon or planets further afield a realistic option for relocation? Many astronauts who have seen the earth have been humbled by the experience, this project questions how the 1% of the 1% (the only people who could afford such a trip/hotel) will view our earths future should they get this opportunity...and how, given that they will own over 60% of the earth's wealth in 2044 will they react?