Hasta La Ideas

The denser cities become the more pressing the issue of mobility is, and it’s one that designers are particularly well-suited to address. We’ve seen some really innovative mobility design solutions this year—everything from mass transit concepts to a mobile kitchen product—but we didn’t anticipate that the next big mobile idea would come from the hospitality industry, yet that’s precisely the market the Austrian architecture and design office, WG3, is targeting with Hypercubus, a mobile hotel room.

Hypercubus is a small, modular dwelling ideally suited for short term stays (i.e. vacations). However, because each unit can be equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping and living area, WG3 is using the units to spearhead a new concept in tourism. It doesn’t have a catchy name yet, but it’s something along the lines of a single unit apartment with on demand maid and concierge services.

The units can be transported with relative ease. Once one is assembled in a factory, it’s strapped to the bed of a truck (Hypercubus is designed to comply with highway regulations) and shipped to a location, where it’s anchored to a concrete base. A staircase is added for access and voila – it’s ready to move in. Okay, it’s slightly more complicated that that. WG3 is still working out the kinks to make the units self-sufficient, but if Winnebago can do it, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The unit designs are modular and highly customizable. Each Hypercubus is essentially a blank slate for hoteliers to design according to their needs and aesthetics. The one pictured here, located in Styria, Austria, has some serious W Hotel-esque lighting aspirations. Another bonus for hoteliers is the ability to keep as many Hypercubuses (or is it Hypercubi?) as the tourist season demands. When it’s summer, ship in a few extra and when wintertime rolls around you can send a few back. Moreover, the project has the potential to give travelers access to exceptionally livable accommodations in areas they might otherwise have to pitch a tent in or drive to from a hotel located miles away. So far the Styria location is the only place to stay in a Hypercubus, but we look forward to seeing more of these ship out around the world.

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