THINKING OUT OF THE BOX
Interior company to introduce mobile hotel
Ked Interiors is developing and working on a one- of- a- kind project that will revolutionarise the local landscape, and the hospitality industry. The innovative company wants to bring the concept of Boxed Living to Botswana in a whole new level.
And even more exciting is the fact that they are conceptualizing a Mobile Hotel. This will be a first for Botswana. The mobile hotel will consist of detachable structural components that can be carried and reassembled at any site. This one will be made out of a fully furnished shipping containers that can be joined together to make a complete house. The company, headed by the creative, Kevin D. Saseng, recently shared a video that gave a hint about what might be coming to Botswana.
In the video, Saseng was in Cape Town, where he had an eye- opening interaction with a designer who had turned around a shipping container into a cozy house. Each and every little detail that one can think of when it comes to making it habitable, and taking care of all the important design elements were taken care of. And with this particular piece, it kind of showcased to those who might not be familiar with this concept of Boxed Living that sometimes, less is more. Speaking in an interview with Saseng, he tells BG Style that they were currently doing research and designing element, to see how this concept can turn the country around, provided that it was implemented well. The idea is to showcase the beauty and the possibilities of boxed living and also showcase the beauty of Botswana in a whole new light. “We are currently busy doing research on this project that is dubbed a Mobile Hotel, and will consists of detachable container structures that can be puzzled to form a big hotel structure in any chosen site,” explains Saseng.
According to Saseng, boxed living is actually your minimum standard of living, where one lives under their minimum space requirements. And in this instance, every single object is very practical and functional, he explains.
Besides the Mobile Hotel concept, he shares that they are also looking into farm houses, where they supply fully furnished containers for farm houses. Now this, he says will illustrate the beauty of boxed living. “In terms of the market, we are looking into customizing all the spaces, with an option for a High, Medium and Low cost. This will help all Batswana to afford this product,” says Saseng. As a trained Interior Designer, Saseng explains that one of the most difficult tasks is to work with small spaces, Spaces that are not thought to be liveable, but that in his profession, he is expected to perform magic, and do the impossible. This is the exciting part of his job. “You are expected to bring something very functional, practical and aesthetically appealing,” he says. Giving a brief about designing and implementing the boxed living concept, he notes that it requires a detailed eye for one to make sure that every feature in the space is multi- functional. “You also need to give good circulation and not forgetting all science aspects of interior design which include ventilation and lighting. Small spaces can be made to look and feel spacious through various uses of materials and introducing natural light,” he says.
Interestingly, Saseng points out that with boxed living, a well- trained interior designer can give any client their dream house regardless of their budget. He also says that working with such a space allows a designer to choose from a range of materials varying from cheap to expensive, which allows them the opportunity to work with everyone. “For example, a project that can be done with P300 000, can be implemented with P80 000, using cheaper materials and furniture,” he explains. Boxed Living is not a new concept to other parts of the world. It is something that has been there before. But the cost of something like this might not be friendly to all, as containers are not readily available in Botswana, and when they are, they come at a cost. “Having to buy and get them here is quite expensive,” he points out.