The new sustainable tourism revolution has begun and is emerging from the heart of the Gorafe desert in Granada, Spain. An avant-garde tourism project has just been launched there that aims to change the current concept of luxury accommodation for travelers seeking the experience of total disconnection from the outside world, through a deep immersion with the environment.
On this occasion in LookOut Pro Magazine we had the opportunity to talk to Priyesh Patel, CEO of the revolutionary eco-hotel concept called DistrictHive (www.districthive.com), a pilot capsule hotel that starts in Spain and will be conquering the most remote and beautiful corners of the planet.
DistrictHive is the first 100% self-sufficient and transportable module that can be deployed in any terrain, even where construction is not possible. How did this idea come about?
DistrictHive is a dream I created for my family’s foray into something innovative off the back of our collective experience. It’s my latest child. As you can imagine, seeing the fully-fledged complete operational product from what was just a dream a few years ago has been extremely rewarding
The original idea and every detail are created by DistrictHive LDA. We certainly had a clear idea of what we wanted to create, and we can say now we did it. Of course, we have been involved in the whole process with the best companies around the world in order to make it possible.
Why the desert of Gorafe in Granada?
Because we were looking for a unique place in nature, secluded and beautiful, and the desert of Gorafe, in Granada, fulfilled all these requirements. From the first moment, it seemed to us the ideal place to start this project.
The construction and installation process of the podtel has been done by MOHO Arquitectos, what were the main reasons for choosing this Spanish studio among other candidates?
I have worked with MOHO Architects before. I have known them for years and with them, I have developed other major international projects. I knew from the first moment that Moho was the most suitable studio to develop a project of these characteristics. Their professionalism and experience have been key ingredients for the success of DistrictHive. And the work, of course, of the rest of the team as well. This includes a wide range of international collaborators: interior designers, engineers, etc. To all of them, I am very grateful.
On the other hand and following with the design of this eco-hotel, how do you understand tourism in a sustainable and responsible way?
This eco-hotel is a 100% self-sufficient autonomous module that represents a new way of understanding tourism from a sustainability and efficiency perspective. It is able to generate its own water from the air, its own electricity from solar energy has its own sewage management by transforming waste into ashes, and grey waters are filtered through two filtering processes so that the water serves as irrigation water.
DistrictHive also respects the environment. It does not touch the ground on which it sits, has no foundations, and does not require any type of channeling, piping, or sanitation. The support system developed has 6 legs that, like a spaceship just landed on Mars, rest on the ground. The environmental impact on the area is zero since no local resources are consumed. Once removed, the location would remain in the same state in which it was previously found.
Another of the peculiarities of DistrictHive is the control of all the devices and services (from the opening of doors, lighting or the purchase of food) on demand from an App. Is it another step towards where the tourism of the future should be heading and its commitment to artificial intelligence?
Of course. I firmly believe in the use of new technologies and advanced systems as the driving force, in this case, of the tourism of the future, but also of the present. The podtel is controlled by Artificial Intelligence and, as you say, is entirely managed through an App. The mobile App controls all devices and provides information on remaining energy levels, solar production, temperature, water quality, water production… It also controls, among other things, the opening of doors, interior odour, lighting, sound, TV, the purchase of food and drink on demand, or the temperature.
Is DistrictHive a response to the demand for accommodation experiences demanded by the millennial client?
Sure. Younger generations are looking for innovative, wild, and daring experiences. The way they conceive the world in general, and tourism in particular, has changed radically and DistrictHive seeks to be the answer to that search.
What can a client expect when staying in a capsule hotel?
The ultimate goal is to provide guests with a unique tourist experience for the enjoyment and delight of all the senses. An experience of full contact with nature through which to disconnect to connect with oneself.
From a formal point of view, the building is a small module of 35m2 divided into several spaces: a bathroom, a kitchen-living-dining room, a bedroom (one double bed and one hidden double bed), multifunctional modular cabinets and shelves, and a small and necessary installation room where all the technical equipment is concentrated. The podtel also has an open terrace for stargazing. In addition, all the furniture, storage spaces, walls, and finishes, have been made with the utmost detail and care so that the final result was a design, intentionally pursuing an image of luxury and warmth. By the way, rentals at www.districthive.com, Booking, and Airbnb
DistrictHive has only been open for a short time, how are the results and the reception so far?
Very positive so far. We are still in an incipient stage, but overall we can say very positive, yes.
DistrictHive is conceived as the first of the so-called “Podtel Colony”, a new and innovative concept of high-end autonomous luxury accommodation that will be scattered in different parts of the world, all of them remote and with the most spectacular views and surroundings. Do we already know where the next capsule hotels will be located?
We are already working on finding the next location for the installation of the next podtel, but we are not yet able to provide further details. What we can say is that there will never be two podtels in the same country and that the destinations will always be of unique and extreme beauty. Remote and unique places on the planet.
On the other hand, DistrictHive offers the possibility of partnerships, international collaborations, investment, and promotion of podtels for tourist use as well as for the private sector. Do you already have any kind of closed collaboration? If someone would be interested in becoming a partner, who should they contact, or what would be the requirements?
Yes, DistrictHive has made the podtels available for partnerships, international collaboration, investments and new site launches for both tourism and private sector use.
We have already received a large number of requests in this regard and our team is analyzing and managing each one of them. Any interested company, investor, or even private person can write an email to queenbee@districthive.com and we will provide all the detailed information on the different types of collaboration that can be carried out.
