“On the night of Tropical Islands’ gala launch, the transformation from airship hangar to island paradise is nearly complete: there are still a few coiled up hoses about, and the rainforest plants look a bit dusty, but most things are in place. The sand along the lip of the Balinese lagoon is a pristine white. Round the other side of the rainforest, the island in the centre of the tropical sea – a body of water about the size of four Olympic swimming pools – is set for the premiere of what will be a nightly stage show. The scale of the operation puts one in mind of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, or a Martian colony, or other things that don’t exist in real life. They have trucked in 30,000m cubed of soil and 500 plant species for their rainforest. The speakers which broadcast insect noises are shaped like rocks. And the building itself, it goes without saying, is extraordinary, the biggest inside of anything you will ever see. It makes your head spin. This place doesn’t just have a climate. It has weather. As the place fills up, the extra moisture in the air condenses on the roof. It starts to rain a little bit.”
Link (via Near, Near Future)