The first 5-star hotel using 35 containers has been built in China: it is the xiang xiang boutique container hotel designed by the Tonghe Shanzhi Landscape Design Architects, in Changzhi, in the Shanxi Province.
The multi-purpose units, occupying a total area of about 5,000 square meters, house 21 rooms, ranging in size from 6 to 12 meters in length, as well as the spaces reserved to the reception, to dining and to organising events.
The complex has a sustainable vocation, since the use of containers has resulted in a savings of 60% of water and concrete compared to a hotel of the same size made of masonry. The assembly time of the 'boxes' was also significantly reduced and they were also painted with eco-friendly water colours.
The idea of using shipping containers came from seeing the Japanese government importing them as temporary housing following the 2011 Tsunami, although these containers have been purpose built for the hotel.
The atmosphere of prayer, which is dominated by the strong presence of incense, is the theme that characterizes the internal structure of the boutique hotel, from the arrangement of the rooms, to the furniture, to the evocative symbols, to the ritual ceremonies included among the services.
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