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Greetings everyone. My wife and I have been kicking around the idea of building a motel. Not your typical motel, more like bungalow style rooms individually built with their own patios. We would definitely want to build them in an inexpensive, environmentally friendly way, make them energy efficient, and comfortable and interesting to guests.
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Sun, October 25, 2009 - 7:16 PMThere is a guy in Northern California with about a hundred acres of Redwood forest who built his homes then built a slightly larger one and turned the first (then second) into a bungalow which he rents out. He also runs courses on construction and sustainability. All of his buildings are recycled materials and lumber he cut himself. Solar water heater to a Japanese style bath. Recycle solar hot water panel.
Only power to the place is solar panels which he purchased new. You get a different crowd to such places not your ordinary turiststas. -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Wed, October 28, 2009 - 1:20 PMDo you have any information about him, like a link to his website? Thanks. -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Wed, October 28, 2009 - 5:50 PM -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Wed, October 28, 2009 - 7:08 PMThanks for the suggestion! I'd love to see it, but it appears that's one of the few movies netflix doesn't have, lol.
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Mon, October 26, 2009 - 5:59 AMCheck out the Desert Hot Springs Motel, a four-unit motel designed by John Lautner in 1947:
www.youtube.com/watch
www.johnlautner.org/wp/ -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Wed, October 28, 2009 - 1:20 PMThanks for sharing that information. The photo of the room located at www.johnlautner.org/wp/ is very similar to the vision I have for our bungalow style rooms, only I'd use different materials to build it, and it probably wouldn't be painted white on the inside.
I have a vision of a place that hunters can enjoy in the winter, bikers can enjoy spring and summer, and hippies can enjoy all year around that has access to lush gardens, a group of hot tubs, and lots of land for hiking/hunting/being close to nature. A place where I can afford to rent rooms for reasonable prices (not looking to get rich, just hoping to earn a good living running the motel) and when/if I start staying consistently full I'll have space to build more bungalows to accommodate more guests. Thinking about building a restaurant/bar on the property as well where we'd serve food made with organically grown meat, fruit, and veggies.
The pool/hottub/shower area would be clothing optional. I'd like to start with 4 or 6 rooms and go from there. My idea is to build the pool/tub/shower area, and the first couple of room at the same time, not far from where I plan to build my home, and start renting them out while I continue to make improvements to the property. I believe if I pick the right location, and price them right, I can keep them rented all year long.
A place similar to Harbin Hotsprings in aesthetics, but without the wierdos running around in t shirts that say "security" on them is what I have in mind.
I would love to partner with others who might have a similar vision, or who might share my vision, and create a type of intentional community of neighbors/friends who want to live in/near that type of place. -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Sun, November 1, 2009 - 12:42 PM>>I'd use different materials to build it, and it probably wouldn't be painted white on the inside.<<
Sounds like you're looking for something with modern design, but rustic materials... Check out Rudy Schindler's Kings Road house, a classic of early modernism that used concrete tilt-slab construction with redwood beams and roofing. His objective was to create a kind of permanent campsite, open to the outdoors in patios and rooftop sleeping areas.
en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Sun, November 1, 2009 - 12:47 PMHmmm... I just noticed the text at that link is about the Schroder House by Gerrit Rietveld... Ignore that, the photos are all of the Schindler House.
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Wed, November 4, 2009 - 7:13 PMI'd look into using Yurts. They'd be ideal for your situation. They are cheap, can be made very comfortable and homy too(look into traditional set ups, to see what the Mongolian Nomads do to make them cozy year round) -
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Re: Thinking about building a motel
Thu, November 5, 2009 - 7:59 AM
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