Paved Paradise?

The architect i wrote about Wednesday is one upped. By a new project by the Electric Sheep Company that is mentioned on a couple of blogs. They are creating a 3D model from a 2D drawing for a RL hotel that will open in 2008. And the fun part is, it is a new hotel Brand named Aloft, with no hotels yet. In a way the SL version will be their first.

Being that the first aloft hotel won't open in North America until 2008, we've begun building the virtual aloft in Second Life using a single exterior rendering as our guide. I've posted the image above. As the Electric Sheep team begins their 3-D modeling, we're all excited to see how they take the 2D image and turn it into a three dimensional experience. It's an interesting process that requires both skill to get the textures and sizing as close as possible to the rendering, but at the same time, making some educated guesses about what elements that aren't in the drawing (most notably the back of the building and the pool).

Besides building it they have also been blogging about it, giving us a view in their build and design process. And it's nice to see it isn't all that different from the rest of us. :)
It is a cool project, but I'm not sure what Aloft is hoping to gain from creating a SL version. What i read about Aloft they seem to aim for the hip and trendy, and i would guess this would be a nice marketing move. What I hope is that creating a SL version will help them design a better RL hotel, and they use it to test different room/floor plan configurations. As a immersive environment, SL might gave them some extra insight in that.

But i wonder if they have any long time plans for the build, i noticed they are creating a shopping area, but are still thinking about other things people can do there. This is a greater problem of SL, a lot of nicely created areas without much to do in them. I will give a suggestion, since the hotel is on a tropical island, a fishing game could be created. Maybe even work together with NeoRealms or Les White on that. Maybe that will attract some regular visitors and create a create a bit of community around it.

Reading about the hotel, reminded me of a machinama idea i have that is inspired on Big Yellow Taxi by the counting Crows. Hence the title. :p

They paved paradise and put up a parkin' lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got till it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parkin' lot

Even though it is a very nice build they did pave paradise. ;)