LightHotel

2016
Minneapolis, MN
Alchemy Architects

Geoffrey Warner, FAIA: Lead Design
Austin Watanabe, AIA: Designer, Builder

The lightHotel is a one room, mobile hotel built inside an 8′ x 20′ shipping container. Designed, built, and operated by Alchemy Architects, the small structure activates urban spaces through nightly rentals, frequent tours, and public events.

Built for a Minnesota climate, the lightHotel features a spray foamed, wood-wrapped interiors, triple-glazed windows, solar powered HVAC, and hydronic in-floor heat. Beneath the built-in queen bed a 250-gallon water tank supplies the shower and bathroom faucet. The LightHotel celebrates the latest technology and presents a test-case for new paradigms in energy-efficient living.