An oasis of life

The Residencia hotel — also known from the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace — in the middle of the Atacama desert, acts as an oasis of life in this hostile environment. It hosts the observing astronomers of the Paranal Observatory and gives them a place to sleep and to relax.

One of the most loved spaces by the astronomers is the huge indoor garden, which also has a swimming pool. However, the pool is not only there for fun: The water also provides the otherwise completely dry air some humidity. This helps the plants in the garden to grow and prevents the eyes and lips of the astronomers to dry out.