These Floating Tents Let You Sleep Hundreds of Feet in Midair 

First there was camping, then there was glamping, and soon there could be floating tents suspended between two mountains—the next logical step, naturally. Though not yet realized, this concept could become a reality thanks to Dubai-based architecture firm Ardh Architects, which recently debuted renderings for a potential hospitality project called The Floating Retreat. Conceptualized as a series of individual tents hanging between two mountains—currently proposed within the mountains of Sharjah—The Floating Retreat aims to “bring luxury and comfort to those who cannot participate in mountain climbing or other adrenaline-filled outdoor activities,” says Omran Alowais, owner of Ardh Architects.

Visitors enter the retreat on the ground in one of the tents, which acts like an elevator and carries them up to the platform, which spans the space between the mountains. Once in the platform, guests have access to their personal tents—which can hold up to two people—and can be lowered back into the air above the valley. “Guests can adjust the suspension of the tents on their own using the provided controls,” Alowais says. “The tents are designed with privacy in mind and can be positioned in various configurations to prevent overlap or proximity to other tents.” Visitors enter the retreat on the ground in one of the tents, which acts like an elevator and carries them up to the platform. The prototype model includes bathrooms on the platforms and 10 individual floating tents. 

Though this isn’t the first extreme adventure hospitality project, it does raise notable questions about the safety of the design. According to Alowais, hotel staff and engineers will always be on-site and trained to address any safety concerns including fire hazards, stuck pods, or intense wind. “The tents are also equipped with double suspended cables as a safety measure. In the event that a tent becomes stuck, the cables allow the pod to swing to the side of the mountain, where the guests can be safely retrieved by the mountain climbing team and brought down to safety,” the architect adds. 

Of course, should the project come to pass, visitors wouldn’t spend all day hanging in the wind. Ardh Architects’ design also includes plans for a mountaintop spa as well as a ground floor reception area that offers concierge services, a restaurant, and private guided tours of the mountain.