In these times if there is anything modern luxury is trying to become it is economical. But how do you keep costs low when you start up a hotel? How about by fabricating modular units off-site and then stacking them together to make a building? CitizenM is trying this out with their new modern design hotels. From the outside it looks like a stack of a few hundred individually made concrete cubicles with wall-to-wall windows. CitizenM’s prefab hotel units wants to give you the same hotel experience no matter where you go, with each room identical to the room next to it. In fact, in any citizenM hotel you’ll go to, the room will look exactly the same. Talk about consistency. If you think about it, it’s actually a very smart idea. Keep building costs low by building the same room off-site for every single one of your hotels. CitizenM is named after a new type of traveler; the mobile “citizen” of this world; those that value personal choice, modern design, friendly technology and the proximity to a city at an accessible price. There are currently two locations that are both in Amsterdam, one near the Schipol airport that opened last June and one in the heart of Amsterdam city that’s just starting to take reservations for April. So what’s the experience like?
At this self-check in hotel, you’ll first be greeted with touch screen terminals so you can choose your personal preferences, everything from your temperature and wake-up call to your lighting and music. They don’t believe in the hooplah of the grand lobby but expect “ambassadors” to help guide you through the process.
Measuring out at 140 sq feet, the rooms are small but don’t think they’re going to sacrifice your modern day luxuries. You’ll get free wi-fi, a LCD television, a king sized bed, a power rain shower and wait for it…a Philips designed touch screen mood pad. With it you’ll be able to control everything in your room from your television to your blinds, your temperature to your colored lighting.
For the weary and hungry traveler, you’ll be happy to hear that they have a 24 hour food outlet called canteenM where you can pick up daily fresh sandwiches, fresh wraps, sashimi, Dutch beer, and Italian coffee. TripAdvisor is currently showing rates on average of $129 and at the time of this writing is rated 5th out of 383 hotels. Get ready to start seeing these modern chain all around Europe as they plan to open at least twenty in the coming years. Find out more at the citizenM website or check out the interesting video below.
{Via InHabitat}