These Wooden Pop-Up Hotel Rooms Are Made of Eco-Friendly Shipping Containers

published Mar 7, 2019

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(Image credit: AccorHotels)

When you hear pop-up accommodations, you’re probably thinking of a tent. AccorHotels has something a bit more glamorous in mind that maintains that connection to your surroundings in an eco-friendly way.

The travel and lifestyle group that manages more than 4,300 hotels, resorts, and residences in 100 different countries has entered the commercialization stage for Flying Nest, its mobile hospitality concept. Flying Nest is a mobile, sustainable accommodation designed with a rising consumer demand in “exclusive and intense experiences” in mind. The project underwent pilot testing at various cultural, sporting, and artistic events in France.

“Originally developed for a B-to-B clientele (event organizing agencies, exhibition organizers, festivals, events, corporate clients, AccorHotels partners, etc.), the Flying Nest concept could also be offered to a B-to-C target in 2019,” Sébastien Dupic, new business senior project manager at AccorHotels, said in a release.

The units are converted shipping containers which have been optimized for quick and easy transportation and reassembly. Each “island” (explained in greater detail below) requires a half day to assemble and a half day to disassemble. Eco-friendly wood walls and exteriors lend a soft, natural feel to each guest room, which boasts the amenities of a standard hotel room: luxe bedding, a private bathroom, an air-conditioned living area, and a Wi-Fi connection.

Designed by Ora-ïto, a French designer, the mobile guestrooms are functional and optimize comfort and connectivity. Each island is made up of six modules (five guest rooms and one technical room) connected by terraces.

“The layout of the islands, the patio, and the large windows connecting the inside of each room to the outside all provide guests with a totally immersive accommodation option at the heart of the experience,” Damien Perrot, Senior Vice President of Design at AccorHotels, said in a release.

Flying Nest units are described as an “environmentally sensitive hospitality solution,” and are made using eco-friendly materials, techniques, and equipment. This includes fair trade amenities, environmentally certified paint, wood cladding sourced from sustainably managed forests, LED lighting, and more.