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URBN Hotels

URBN Shanghai Made From Old Bricks and Tiles

April 7, 2008 at 9:26 AM | 0 Comments

We said they'd be opening in December, and they actually got there. On top of that, the whole concept of the URBN Hotel Shanghai is so unique that we really want to stay there. It's the first of a planned chain of carbon-neutral hotels in China and, the owners hope, the start of a new pro-environment trend in China.

The URBN Shanghai was built in an eco-friendly way by including both salvaged bricks and tiles from buildings that were being demolished, and by buying additional materials only sourced from local manufacturers. Other green factors include natural shading from living bamboo, and fluorescent lights which have been made ambient by housing them in lanterns--the result of six weeks' research.

Now that the hotel is up and running, any energy used--and that even includes the commuting done by staff--will be calculated and neutralized through buying carbon credits. Naturally, some of this will be built in to the price you're paying for a room, and with rates starting around 2000CNY (US$280), it's not a cheap place to stay, but it's a green one.

[Photo: URBN]