ESO Hotel at Cerro Paranal (or Residencia) is the accommodation for Paranal Observatory in Chile since 2002.[1] It is mainly used for the ESO (European Southern Observatory) scientists and engineers who work there on a roster system.
The hotel is located at 2,400 meters (7,900 ft) above sea level on Cerro Paranal. The people there work in extreme climatic conditions including intense sunlight, dryness, high wind speeds and great fluctuations in temperature. To protect against these an artificial oasis has been built where people can relax between shifts. The Hotel has 120 rooms and other public spaces: a canteen, lounge, swimming pool, a fitness center and library.
The Hotel complex, comprising four levels, fits snugly into an existing depression in the ground. There are spectacular views out across the desert to the Pacific Ocean from each of the 120 rooms and also from the dining room veranda.
Also visible is a slightly raised dome comprising a steel skeleton that measures 35 meters (115 ft) in diameter.
The hotel's exterior was featured in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace. A miniature of the hotel was built by the visual effects team for the shots where the hotel is destroyed.
The architect was Auer+Weber of Germany and the constructor was Vial y Vives Ltda. of Chile.[1] The total surface is 10 000 m², with the L-shape being 176 m x 53 m. It has 4 levels, 1 000 m² of Gardens, 108 rooms, and 18 offices.[1] It includes a restaurant, music room, library, swimming-pool, and sauna.[1] Its inauguration was in February 2002 [1]
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