BUILDING
The Bold & the Beautiful
• Morpheus Hotel , City of Dreams Macau •
Depending on your frame of reference , Morpheus is the Greek god of dreams or an action star in the Matrix movie franchise . Either way , the heroic name fits
Macau ’ s newest and most startling hotel tower .
Designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid in one of the final projects of her career , the futuristic 42-story hotel opened at City of Dreams Macau , a Melco Resorts & Entertainment property , on June 15 .
Macau ’ s latest landmark is unlike any other , and literally turns architecture inside out with its extraordinary steel exoskeleton . The hotel ’ s massive double towers are joined by curved bridges designed to create “ voids ” that let the natural light stream in , says ZHA Project Director Viviana Muscettola .
Exterior steel ribbons hug the building , limiting the need for supporting columns within , and allowing for dramatically scaled interior spaces . The structure , equipped with a dozen high-speed glass elevators , was inspired by traditional Chinese jade carving techniques capable of rendering hard minerals into fluid-looking forms .
Muscettola calls the unexpected design approach “ a jump into the unknown ” that “ makes no reference to traditional architectural typologies .”
With more than 770 elegant rooms , suites and villas , the hotel — yes , it ’ s named for the Greek god , not the superhero — will target premium-mass customers who spend freely at Macau ’ s casinos without the need for junket investors .
An entire floor is devoted to fine dining , with two restaurants from acclaimed Chef Alain Ducasse of Monaco ; a pâtissierie from Pierre Hermé , “ the Picasso of pastry ;” and a Chinese fine dining establishment , Yi , located in the hotel ’ s Sky Bridge .
Morpheus also offers a modern art gallery on the 23rd floor ; a rooftop sky pool , with 360-degree views of the glittering Cotai Strip ; a deluxe spa ; and a 12,000-square-foot luxury retail area . VIP guests may call on dedicated personal butlers , 24 hours a day . The property , targeted to the elite premium-mass customer , also offers 40 gaming tables .
In 2012 , when the hotel project was in its infancy , Melco Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho said he wanted “ the most iconic architect ” to create something “ just insane ” at City of Dreams . Hadid , the first woman ever to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture , certainly delivered .
“ Morpheus is truly an architectural icon , not just for Macau but for Asia ,” said Ho at the hotel ’ s grand opening . “ We wanted to send a love letter to China and Macau , given all the support and the great business and relationships we ’ ve had over the years .”
Due to a 3 percent cap on new gaming tables in the jurisdiction , Melco reallocated 40 tables to Morpheus for the hotel ’ s debut . Even without new gaming capacity , Morpheus could still contribute up to 40 percent in revenue growth for City of Dreams , according to analyst Grant Govertsen of Union Gaming Asia Securities Ltd .
Ho feels certain that the resort will get additional tables in 2019 . “ We have a great relationship with the Macau government . We ’ re confident .”
As Dame Hadid ’ s only Macau project — it was completed after her death in 2016 — Morpheus will stand as a bold tribute to her vision , and Melco ’ s . — Marjorie Preston
OWNER : Melco Entertainment ARCHITECT : Zaha Hadid Architects DESIGNERS : Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT : Leigh & Orange of Hong Kong INTERIOR DESIGN : Remedios Studio of Hong Kong ACCOMMODATIONS : 591 rooms , 181 suites and nine villas INVESTMENT : $ 1.1 billion
6 CASINO STYLE 2018