A Shiny, Compact Hotel Just Landed on Earth

Chananya de Ruiter
December 29, 2021

The otherworldly DistrictHive ‘podtel’ is a luxury getaway without compromise in the middle of a Spanish desert

At first glance, it looks like something straight from a sci-fi movie, like perhaps a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to researching the highly classified. But this reflective, rectangular hub in the middle of nowhere is actually the world’s first autonomous podtel, or pod-hotel.

Located in the desert in Gorafe, Granada, Spain, the 35-square-meter Colony Podtel by DistrictHive is designed to be completely transportable and could be a prototype for extraterrestrial housing in the future. Indeed, what sparked the idea for the podtel was the idea of landing on Mars. For now, its current location in Gorafe is ideal for stargazing and going off the grid.

Photo: Courtesy of DistrictHive

Completely self-sustaining and carbon neutral, the podtel is capable of generating its own water and electricity. Charged via solar panels, the podtel can store enough battery power to run itself for four days without the sun. It also collects water from the surrounding air and converts all waste into ash and irrigation water to be safely discarded into the environment.

Photo: Courtesy of DistrictHive

In addition, employing some of the most cutting-edge tech out there, the podtel is powered by artificial intelligence. All lighting, sound, temperature, and even interior aromas are controlled by AI, and food and drink can be conveniently accessed and paid for around the clock through apps.

A futuristic take on luxurious escapes, DistrictHive’s goal with The Colony Podtel was to create a new environment without disrupting ecosystems, while providing guests with an extremely secluded, five star space to recharge along with the best available services. At the podtel, you won’t feel like you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere at all but rather in most private, well-designed, and inspiring getaway that money can buy.