Art consoles those who
are broken by life. It stirs emotions. It inspires.
I love how Containers by Eco Hotel in Tagaytay breathes life to its living boxes by adorning them with so much art. Opened in late 2017, the container and eco-inspired hotel is innovative, chic, and undeniably Instagram-friendly, meant to cater to discerning art enthusiasts and millennials. The whole place is like a modern art gallery with a hint of Penang street art.
My guess is 50% of the hotel is made from cargo or shipping containers. With their inherent strength, vast availability and considerable low cost, containers had long been repurposed as a space for human activity and accommodation.
The guardhouse is entirely made of black containers.
In the registration area, evident is the yellow Mediterranean Shipping Company or MSC container converted as wall. MSC is the world's second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity. The counter, couches and chairs are made from wood. A miniature wooden container truck bearing the hotel’s name is displayed on the counter. A painting of mother nature personified, tells everything about the hotel - Green living starts here. Reduce, reuse, recycle. The thing that burns never returns. Less pollution is the best solution. Recycling plastic feels fantastic. You are in a hotel with a green heart.
The hotel has 18 rooms and more are still being constructed. Hallways leading to the rooms are decorated with murals and artworks made by local artists.
There are two room types – family and couple. Each room is comfortable and cozy, and equipped with AC, cable TV, hot and cold shower; and distinctly has its own Filipino concept that is related to or promotes green environment and eco-sustainability like tutubi, kawayan, bote, lubid, kahoy, kopra, kotse, and karagatan.
All the family rooms are located on the ground floor. The room with queen size bed and double deck, has a maximum capacity of five persons. A famous French quote “Carpe Diem” is prominent and present in almost every room.
Couple room with queen size bed, are on the upper floors. Exceptional room amenities are the native woven slippers made of dried banana leaves and bath essentials with lemon grass scent.
It’s a bonus that the hotel welcomes furry pets. Plus the staff are honest and helpful.
Every corner of the place is artsy – paintings here there everywhere, every bottle, tanzan, foil pack and plastic utensil made into something beautiful and useful.
The hotel has a function room named “Thinking Room”, which is ideal for small group seminars, workshops, and even movie nights.
It also has an alfresco dining area, which is open only in the morning and mainly serves guests with complimentary breakfast consisting of brewed coffee or hot tea, and tapsilog or bangsilog.
Despite the limited food serving, guests need not go far because right within the compound where the hotel stands is a neighbouring Japanese restaurant, worth a visit or two. Mori serves delectable sushi, chicken katsu and their innovative dish bulalo ramen.
After eating, there’s not much to do but again appreciate more works of art (stand out is a portrait of a girl with crawling plants accessorized as her hair) in the parking lot and the garden.
And wait for the golden hour.
Our choice to wait reveals the weight of importance on what we’re waiting for.
From Manila, take Tagaytay-bound bus and get off in Olivares. Take a tricycle or jeepney going to People’s Park and get off right in front of the hotel. It is near Starbucks.
Containers by Eco-Hotel
SVD Rd., Tagaytay City
Telephone No.: 881-5318
