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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Tubohotel: Concrete Tubing Recycled Into Affordable, "All Tube" Hotel

by Kimberley Mok
from: http://www.treehugger.com/

tubohotel1.jpgPhotos: Luis Gordoa and Tubohotel website

Here on TreeHugger we've already seen minimalist hotels made out of giant sections of concrete tubing. But who would have known concrete tubing could be actually made to look inviting, much less for travellers looking to stay in one of Mexico's more popular destinations? Located less than an hour away from Mexico City, Tepoztlan's Tubohotel is an affordable hotel that uses recycled concrete tubing for its rooms, a strategy employed by designers T3arc to build a hotel quickly and cheaply, without sacrificing the area's spectacular views.

tubohotel4.jpg

According to ArchDaily, this hotel was inspired in part by architect Andreas Strauss' 2005 Das ParkHotel. However, Tubohotel's concrete modules add a touch of glass and comfort to allow guests a better panoramic view of the local mountain range, Sierra del Tepozteco. Legend has it that Tepoztlan is the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, Mexico's ancient feathered serpent god.

Of course, producing concrete creates a colossal ecological footprint, but recycling concrete makes it much more eco-friendly as a building material.

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The modules are mostly arranged in stacked pyramids of three tubes to free up the wooded site, the top room of each pyramid is accessible via a set of stairs. Inside, it's a queen size bed, with curtains providing some privacy.

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Construction took only 3 months, with the hotel operating as of 2010. Targeting budget travellers, accommodations are affordable (500 pesos or $43 USD per night) and according to Tubohotel's website, there are two bathroom houses, private showers and toilets on-site and local cuisine with a celebrity chef nearby as well.

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