This is not in Malaysia....but interesting to know...... ;)




World’s largest indoor rainforest gets the nod




BERLIN: Authorities in Germany have given the final go-ahead for the world's largest indoor rainforest inside a giant structure outside Berlin which was built as a hangar for 21st-century dirigibles.

Colin Au, head of a British-Malaysian business consortium, received the permission in Berlin, where he also discussed a request for an undisclosed amount in government funding subsidies to help get their “Tropical Island” enclosed rainforest scheme off the ground.

“I am very pleased to be bringing Tropical Island to the Berlin area,” Au, 54.

The US$75mil (RM285mil) project will use the enormous hangar – the largest free-standing arched hall in the world – to house rainforest flora and fauna and six villages representing indigenous cultures in Malaysia, Thailand, the Congo, the Amazon, Bali and Polynesia.

Visitors could wind their way on 1.2km of jungle pathways alongside lagoons and enjoy cultural shows by 160 performers from the six indigenous areas.

CargoLifter, the now-defunct German company which once had dreams of launching a new generation of airships to haul 160-ton loads worldwide, managed only to build the world's largest hangar.

The hangar was sold for US$20mil (RM76mil) to the consortium, Tropical Island Corporation.

A tentative opening date of Oct 3 is planned by the consortium, which is a subsidiary of Tanjong PLC of Kuala Lumpur and London and of Au Investment Company of Singapore. – dpa

There is something like that already in Zurich/Switzerland:

Rain Forests in Switzerland
In the summer of 2003 the Zurich zoo opened its new rainforest hall, recording 400,000 visitors in its first 100 days. The hall, the largest building of its kind in Europe, is covered by a new high-tech material allowing light to filter through. Only by using this material was the reproduction of the rainforest possible at all. Today 96 per cent of Madagascar’s original forest growth has been destroyed. A portion of the proceeds from the zoo’s shops and restaurant will be donated anually to preserve the forests, which are among the three richest in wildlife in the world. A winding path guides the visitors through biotype forests of the Masoala peninsula. The exhibit is comprised of bamboo forests and waterfalls, populations of giant turtles, birds and lemurs.
Cost for the Hall were approx US$ 40 Million.

Foto from Webshots
:D

http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/5/54/91/83955491Bqqbdp_fs.jpg

Wah....cannot see the picture lah :ohno:

Check now lah. Someone did magic trick. :cool:

Still doesn't work! Gee I'm so clumsy when it comes to these things. :bash: http://community.webshots.com/photo/83950564/83955717NXLfvu

Originally posted by Greg

Still doesn't work! Gee I'm so clumsy when it comes to these things. :bash: http://community.webshots.com/photo/83950564/83955717NXLfvu

Wah Greg. Your magic is not working lah :D

Malaysia no need indoor lah :D :D :D

Just click this lah :D

http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/5/54/91/83955491Bqqbdp_fs.jpg

Impressive :eek:

WOW thanks for the link Baq. That is one huge superstructure!

Originally posted by hypermount

WOW thanks for the link Baq. That is one huge superstructure!

yup.....I saw that on Discovery last time......It is VERY big.......I have always been impressed by these airship hangars! :eek:

http://www.tanjongplc.com

Tanjong On Track With Berlin Tropical Islands Project

Kuala Lumpur, 16 Apr 2004 - Tanjong Public Limited Company ("Tanjong") announced today that the Group has successfully completed the acquisition of the assets of German based CargoLifter AG group of companies, with the payment of balance EUR12.5 million (approximately RM57.4 million) effected today.

The acquisition, for a total cash consideration of EUR17.5 million, includes the largest free standing dome ("Berlin Dome") in the world measuring 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high, an exhibition centre and buildings as well as 500 hectares of freehold land outside Berlin, in the State of Brandenburg, Germany.

The acquisition was completed following the fulfilment of the conditions set out in the commercial agreement signed in July last year. These include the necessary planning approvals and building permits which have been obtained from the relevant German authorities for the development and operation of the Berlin Tropical Islands project, an edutainment and leisure based tourist holiday destination that provides an all year-round indoor tropical environment within the Berlin Dome.

A joint "Passing of Keys and Ground Breaking" ceremony will be held in Berlin today to mark the completion of the acquisition. Guests of Honour are the Prime Minister of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Mr. Matthias Platzeck, who will officiate the "Passing of the Keys" ceremony, while the ground breaking ceremony will have the Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, Mr. Ulrich Junghanns doing the honours. Also present at the ceremony are Datuk Khoo, Chairman of Tanjong; Mr Colin Au, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tropical Islands; as well as other dignitaries from the State of Brandenburg.

The Berlin Tropical Islands project is a resort destination with an exotic year-round tropical setting featuring different themed areas of natural islands, such as rainforest, sea, lagoon, village, park, flower garden and market place.

Its year-round tropical setting means that it will be extremely attractive to visitors from Germany and Europe in winter while in summer, it will have a significant number of visitors as it is located next to Spreewald, a huge nature reserve with large number of rivers and lakes. Spreewald, which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, attracts some 4 million visitors a year.

Total development costs for the Berlin Tropical Islands project, which is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2004, is estimated at approximately EUR70 million, which includes the EUR17.5 million acquisition costs of the assets of CargoLifter AG Group.

A joint venture company, Central Pacific Assets Limited ("CPA"), held equally by Tanjong Entertainment Sdn Bhd ("TESB"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanjong, and Au Leisure Investments Pte Ltd ("Au Leisure"), had initially been formed to undertake the above acquisition and the completion of the project.

Following the successful completion of the acquisition, the partners had agreed to a new joint venture arrangement which sees Tanjong Group increasing its equity interest to 75% in Tropical Island S.ar.l ("TISARL"), the joint venture company which will now undertake the Berlin Tropical Islands project. Au Leisure holds the remaining 25% equity interest.

Datuk Khoo said, "The increased percentage of equity participation in TISARL of 75% will accord the Tanjong Group control of TISARL. As a subsidiary of the Tanjong Group, TISARL would be better placed to draw upon the Tanjong Group's internal resources and external business relationships in its development of the Berlin Tropical Islands project."

Details of the announcement are available from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange website at www.klse.com.my and at Tanjong website, www.tanjongplc.com.

Something like that in Cornwall SW England but its only plants.Its more a science based project than the Indoor Rainforest as far as I know.
http://www.cornishlight.co.uk/03-july-02/eden-project.jpg

woow.... a lot of giant balloon. the rainforest is going to situate inside the balloon???

woow.... a lot of giant balloon. the rainforest is going to situate inside the balloon???

it should be. if not, why is it indoor rainforest??:D

it should be. if not, why is it indoor rainforest??:D

Just curious :bash:

woow.... a lot of giant balloon. the rainforest is going to situate inside the balloon???



http://www.cornishlight.co.uk/03-july-02/eden-project.jpg

^^^ This is the Eden Project (I think it is called Habitat or soemthing) at Cornwall UK lah! carlspannard is just showing us the pics of this project which is kinda similar to the controlled-atmosphere of the Indoor Rainforest thingy that I posted. So this is NOT the Berlin Tropical Island lah :bash:

it should be. if not, why is it indoor rainforest??:D


You another one! So blur! :bash: :D

Here's the actual pictures of the Berlin Tropical Island dome!


http://www.ferrostaal.com/ImageCalcDown.aspx?height=530&url=/res/www-ferrostaal-com/312/DSDCargolifterhalle.jpg

During construction......

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/cargolifter/images/img5.jpg

The vast scale of Berlin Tropical Island dome is shown here relative to the Statue of Liberty. :eek:

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/cargolifter/images/img4.jpg



The now defunct CargoLifter AG have constructed a headquarters hangar capable of housing their CL 160 fleet at a site located on the former military airfield of Brand, 60km south of Berlin.

So now, instead of it being used as a hangar for Zeppelins/airships.......it would house an exotic year-round tropical setting featuring different themed areas of natural islands, such as rainforest, sea, lagoon, village, park, flower garden and market place. ;)

More pictures....

http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/language/berlin/photos/cargolifter.jpg

Tanjong expands leisure business with tropical resort project





Kuala Lumpur, 11 Jul 2003 - Tanjong Public Limited Company announced today that the Group has entered into a commercial agreement to acquire the assets of CargoLifter AG group of companies for a cash consideration of EUR17.5 million (approximately RM76 million).
Included within these assets is the largest free standing hangar in Europe measuring 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high; a visitors’ centre and buildings as well as freehold land of approximately 500 hectares.

It is Tanjong's intention to develop the hangar, which is located in Brand, approximately 60 km south of Berlin, Germany into a resort destination which will house a variety of tropical settings such as a rainforest, sea, lagoon, beaches, water parks, exhibition centres and tropical flower world.

Tanjong Entertainment Sdn Bhd ("TESB"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tanjong, has entered into an agreement with Au Leisure Investments Pte Ltd to form a 50:50 joint venture to develop the said resort.

Under this agreement, the joint venture will have an initial issued and paid-up share capital of EUR5 million, and eventually an enlarged paid-up share capital of up to EUR30 million.

Also, two German companies to be known as “Tropical Island Management GmbH” and “Tropical Island Asset Management GmbH” (collectively referred to as the "German Companies"), both 50% owned by TESB have entered into a conditional purchase and loan contract with Prof Dr Rolf-Dieter Mönning (“Liquidator”) for the acquisition of the assets of CargoLifter AG Group.

Colin Au, who has 30 years of experience and expertise in international leisure and tourism industries, shall be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture company, while the position of Chairman and Chief Financial Officer shall be nominated by Tanjong.

Datuk Khoo, Chairman of Tanjong said, "This project is very much an extension of Tanjong’s existing involvement in the leisure and entertainment business. Over the years, we have been continuously identifying opportunities for the expansion of our business in this sector."

"The Tropical Island project therefore, presents an excellent opportunity for Tanjong to create a new intellectual property in the area of edutainment and leisure based holiday destinations with tropical island settings with a small capital outlay,” added Datuk Khoo.

It is estimated that the entire project shall incur a total cost of up to approximately EUR70 million (RM304.5 million) which includes the EUR17.5 million acquisition costs of the assets of CargoLifter AG Group. The project cost will be funded through a combination of equity funds, shareholder's advances and bank borrowings to be secured by the German Companies.

Colin Au said, "We are confident that this project, when completed, will draw in repeat visitors, especially from Germany and its neighbouring European countries."

"We plan to feature monthly exhibits of a tropical country or region. As a start, we hope to work with the Malaysian Tourist Promotion Board to feature Malaysia with its rich heritage of culture, arts, food, architecture, islands, resorts and its rainforest. Also, Malaysia's cultural groups, musicians and dancers will have the opportunity to perform at the Tropical Island," Au elaborated.

Assuming that planning approvals and building permits are received by the end of the year, and the commercial agreement is completed, works within the CargoLifter hangar are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2004, and operations of the “Tropical Island” are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2004.

A rainforest is envisaged to be at the centre of the island containing trees and plants from various rainforest zones such as South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, as well as streams, rivers and waterfalls. In addition, the island shall encompass a sea with beach and terrace for sun loungers, a water park, a lagoon, a tropical village and a tropical plant world.

Details of the announcement are available from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange website at www.klse.com.my and at Tanjong website, www.tanjongplc.com.

You another one! So blur! :bash: :D

OUCH!!!!!

BTW, thanks 4 the info:D

Do you guys know who Colin Au is? A Malaysian billionaire

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3067459a34,00.html
Tropical island sprouts up in German countryside
18 October 2004

BERLIN: Bathers lounging on the beach flanked by exotic plants in the middle of a harsh German winter - that is the vision of Malaysian businessman Colin Au.


Au is not a climate change forecaster, but the president of Tropical Islands, a vast airship hangar 60km south of Berlin which is to house a beach and pool complex guaranteeing tropical temperatures whatever the weather outside.

By Christmas, Au's vision should be reality.

Workers are still busy with the final touches to the 140m pool and moulding a hill where many of the 12,000 tropical plants, 500 species in all, will be set.

The trees and bushes started arriving this month, and the artificial sea, equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools, is to be filled in November. The whole complex should be ready by mid-December.

Visitors will enter by a lagoon and waterfall and pass a rainforest to reach the beach or swing left to the village of authentic huts from Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Polynesia, the Amazon and the Congo, with food from each available.

The complex will be kept at a constant 25 degC.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAu, the former head of Star Cruises, the world's number three cruise firm, said the project was inspired by north Europeans', and especially the Germans', love of sun, sea and sand.

A chat with a German banking friend led him in February 2003 to insolvent airship maker Cargolifter and its vast blimp hangar - Europe's largest free-standing hall, which administrators were looking to sell.

What Au saw met his needs. The hangar is 360m by 210m, the size of eight football pitches, and at 107m high would comfortably accommodate New York's Statue of Liberty.

A little over a year later, Au and Malaysian gaming and power company Tanjong bought it and a surrounding 500 hectare plot, a former Soviet air base, for 17.5 euro ($NZ32.4 million) - less than a quarter of the hall's construction cost.

The eastern state of Brandenburg is hoping that the project will give the region a boost, not least by providing 500 jobs. The state's unemployment rate is 18.5 per cent, well above the national average of just over 10 per cent.

There is some scepticism that the venture will work after high-profile failures in the state such as that of the Cargolifter airship maker and a microchip factory at Frankfurt an der Oder.

"These have been mostly hi-tech things. All I know is the leisure industry," Au said.

Tropical Islands nevertheless needs 1.5 million visitors a year to break even. Its electricity bill alone will be sizeable - enough for a small town.

Au is upbeat about attracting 2.5 million visitors, saying the local area attracts three to four million a year and that 10,000 beds are within just a 30-minute car ride away.

Berlin is within an hour's drive of the attraction.

Although there is a clear winter market, Au also believes his indoor island will lure visitors in summer too, even on sunny days, and particularly in the evenings, when exotic bands and dancers will be performing to a beachside audience.

Au sees the venture as a cross between the more adult-oriented horticultural Eden Project in Britain and child-focused theme parks.

"Tropical Islands is more neutral and will appeal to 90 percent of people," he said.

A hotel, with around 400 rooms, may be built by 2008, but the operators expect some initial visitors will be happy to stay overnight in a tent on the beach. Tropical Islands will be open 24 hours a day.

A typical entry ticket for four hours will cost 15 euros ($NZ27.78) or 40 euros ($NZ74.10) for a family.

Au says he is already talking to some low cost airlines that fly into Berlin, many such as EasyJet fly to the nearby Schoenefeld Airport, and is hoping to persuade railway operator Deutsche Bahn to make local Brand station a stop for its express trains.

The journey by public transport takes more than an hour from the centre of Berlin.

Brandenburg has yet to decide whether it will subsidise some of the 70 million euro investment, which includes the purchase of the hall, but appears encouraged by the venture's prospects.

Initially, it hopes the state's hotels and eateries will benefit from the giant hall's draw.

"Longer term, it should attract tourists from across Europe to Brandenburg. And that's a great thing," a state economy ministry spokesman said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2004/12/20/hwgerm20r.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2004/12/20/wgerm20.jpg

http://www.berliner-rundfunk.de/brfmedia/5/9/48bd86b96df0032c485b8eda273774.jpg

http://www.berliner-rundfunk.de/brfmedia/4/0/669e8cd08d1fb483e9c102d24d423e.jpg

http://www.my-tropical-islands.com/webcam/dome1.jpg

wooaaaaaa.......maasssiveee lah

OMG, that is big :eek2: :eek2:

Damnly hugely giganticly big :happy:

From flickr selections:

1
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/118/87420940ae3.jpg

2
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1981/33631413ni4.jpg

3
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6695/25800402nv6.jpg

4
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2379/43937098wk2.jpg

5
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2274/30446016kq3.jpg

6
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6840/81697945th8.jpg

7
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4823/22024874ut4.jpg

8
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4074/38778099ya1.jpg

wow!! Ich lieben

Emm Could it be a airship hangar at one time!!!!

The place is so like a human capsule world. Life in a confined place with the most essential ingredients, water and oxygen. One thing less is.. no animal to hunt though.

wow

MAGNIFICIENT...SIMPLY ASTOUNDING~~!!