Travelodge Building Pop-Up Prefab Hotels
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01. 8.08
We previously showed the Travelpod, an experimental prefab from Travelodge, and thought it was an interesting one-off. We were wrong; the company is looking seriously at prefab hotels and is building their first in the west London district of Uxbridge, right now. it is like a pop-up prefab:
"It could facilitate the creation of hotels on a temporary basis at times of peak demand in certain locations -- such as festivals or sporting events," the firm's director of property and development Paul Harvey said. "A temporary structure to fill such a need would differ to the design of a permanent hotel but it could be built in as little as 12 weeks and removed quickly at the end of the event when the need is gone."
According to Reuters, the modules were imported from China with bathrooms already installed, with windows fitted and furnishings and decorations added once the containers have been put together.
But for future hotels, the firm hopes even the furnishing and decoration could be done in China.
Travelodge says using the Chinese-built modules is 25 percent faster and 10 percent cheaper, making it a core part of their strategy to become the largest hotel operator in London by the 2012 Olympics.
The firms behind the modular design -- Verbus Systems, a joint-venture between consulting engineers Buro Happold and constructor George & Harding -- say the modular system could also be used for student accommodation and urban housing. ::Reuters
Verbus says "The Verbus system works by using prefabricated bedroom modules which arrive partially or fully fitted-out. When on site the modules are locked together and the internal fit-out is completed. Once all modules are in place the building is finished with a traditional brickwork, render or cladding exterior and a pitched or flat roof." - we think it looks a lot better under construction, but that will come.
Thanks to Simmons at ::Thoughts on Global Warming!
also see: the Sun
Built 25% faster. Hmm. A nice looking prefab house was built on our steet this summer. It took an eight hour day to assemble. Landscaping, water,sewer, and electrical connections. About 60 days.
That is the smartest, most economical thing, have EVER seen in my entire life.
BEST OF ALL, you can take it apart when ur done using it
its the portable skyscraper people.
one day its in london
one day its in paris
one day its in toronto!
Are those shipping containers? Very Cool
Whoa! I recently read the famous sci-fi novel Neuromancer by William Gibson and this quite reminiscent of the "hotels" in his story.
How green is the machinery that moves things thing around and sets it up. What are they using, diesel?
And heavy freight equipment to haul it all over the globe, 12 stories or 20 stories high?
I would like to see the total numbers re. eco-footprint on this adventurous concept.
rather than having everything built in china - for, i'm sure, close to slave labor costs, the units should be constructed on at least the continent they intend to be used. that would reduce shipping costs, too.
this is a great idea....25% faster, that is very nice but a good information about it is to know what the gains and the pains are in its adoption. i would like to know how many projects this has been used for and the regions. thanks
doesnt seem that green shipping highrises city to city.