Global "Pipe Hotels" Vary Greatly: Some Have Two Floors and Even Suspended Dining Pods

By Reporter Cai Wenjun / Comprehensive Report

Tainan’s "Pipe Hotel" is finally set to officially openthis Sunday, much to the excitement of netizens. Abroad, the pipe hotel concept—often compared to Japan’s capsule hotels—has been around for years. There’s no need to pitch a tent yourself; just bring your toiletries and clothes, and you can easily immerse yourself in nature. Below are some well-known "pipe hotels" located around the world.

▲ Pipe Hotel in Henan, China. (Photo / Screenshot from UK's Daily Mail)

According tothe UK's Daily Mail,a hotel owner in a rural area of Henan came up with the idea of transforming large concrete pipes into 15 pipe rooms. Each room is a double room that can accommodate two people. Apart from the bathrooms being located farther away, all necessary amenities are provided inside. Guests don’t have to worry about it getting too hot here either—each room is equipped with an air conditioner outside to ensure a cool stay even in summer.

Additionally, to make each room’s exterior more than just dull gray, the hotel owner painted cute illustrations on the “outer walls” of each room. Upon closer inspection, you can even spot the 12 zodiac signs subtly hidden within.

▲ Prahran Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo / From thePrahran Hotel fan page)

When people think of pipe hotels, many imagine rows of large pipes lined up on green lawns or camping grounds. But Melbourne’s Prahran Hotel is different. While it may not offer the experience of camping, thanks to the ingenuity of architect Justin Northrop, you can see over a dozen circular pipes stacked on the left side of the building from afar. However, beyond its aesthetic appeal, it serves other purposes as well.

Inside the hotel, massive pipes extend from the first floor up the walls to the second floor. While the exterior maintains its original cement color, the interior is slightly enhanced with brown-toned wooden walls and paired with leather sofas, creating elegant and unique dining pod areas. If that’s not enough to tempt you, there’s also a long suspended pipe dining area located in the center of the hotel, offering 12 seats and accessible only from the second floor, giving guests the unique experience of dining as if floating in mid-air.

%The bar, composed of a uniquely shaped pipe structure, is also part of the building’s facade (Note: unclear segment, retaining symbol). Guests can also choose to dine at the pipes located outside the main structure (see right image), which is also a fun dining experience. (Photo / From the Prahran Hotel fan page)

Mexico’s "Tubohotel"

What if pipe hotels were lined up on a lawn? Mexico’s pipe hotel even has two floors. Located in the small town of Tepoztlán, Tubohotel covers approximately 220 square meters and has 20 rooms. Instead of simply lining up the pipe rooms, the operators also stacked some of them into a triangular shape. Guests can use stairs to climb up to the “second floor” to sleep.

In addition to using stacking to create a unique visual effect, the interior design of the rooms is equally ingenious. Each room features a different themed illustration, making the cement-colored walls look less cold and rigid. There’s also storage space under the large double beds where guests can place their luggage. Although the doors and windows are made of transparent glass, the hotel has curtains on both sides, allowing guests to enjoy the tranquility of nature at night before drawing the curtains and sleeping peacefully.

%At night, the "Tubohotel" is illuminated, adding a serene beauty to the natural surroundings. (Photo / Oriental IC)

Germany’s "Daspark Hotel"

Designed with the concept of connecting with nature, the "Daspark Hotel" is located in Bern Park, surrounded by vast green spaces. Each room provides a double bed, storage space, and charging outlets. However, its most distinctive feature is the lack of a fixed price—guests can pay whatever they feel is appropriate upon departure.

Additionally, recreational spaces such as toilets, restaurants, and bars are located elsewhere and require a short walk to reach. Since the bathrooms do not provide toiletries, guests must bring their own.

%The "Daspark Hotel" does not have fixed room rates; guests can pay whatever amount they wish. (Photo / From the Daspark Hotel fan page)

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