How did the idea for The Pop-Up Hotel
come about?
A few years ago, I felt like the ground was shifting be-
neath my feet. I had been suffering from depression for
a year, and that year had taught me to enjoy the little
things in life. Things that didn’t cost anything but were
extremely valuable, like playing with the kids, walking
in the countryside, gathering around the campfire,
looking up at the stars, etc. In the following year, I drew
up a business plan that went as follows: buy a plot of
woodland, set up some fun places to stay and invite
people in a similar situation to come and slow down for
a while and learn to enjoy life again. That is a serious
business model, too big to put into practice all at once.
So, we launched an experiment last year called ‘The
Pop-Up Hotel’. People could book a stay at the hotel
for two months. It was a test for the definitive plan:
Paradise.
How did you put the idea into practice?
The essence of The Pop-Up Hotel and Paradise is
slowing down and adapting to the pace of nature. To
attract a wide audience, we decided to go for the more
stylish concept of glamping. There is no point trying
to get 50-year-olds into a tent. And ultimately, we want
to link it to an experience that people react to along
the lines of “damn, I’ve never done anything like that
before”.
That vision was already clear in December 2016, but it
is only thanks to the volunteers, who turned up at var-
ious times in those six months, that the project really
began to take shape: quality mattresses for a really
good night’s sleep, tiny houses that didn’t compromise
on comfort, and a pleasant cooking experience thanks
to Barbecook and Greenpan. I suppose you could let
people sit on carved wooden benches, but the use of
Extremis furniture took the experience to a much high-
er level. I am extremely grateful for that. The combina-
tion of nature and Extremis furniture was a revelation. It
was fantastic. The photos show what I mean. Extremis
products also fit perfectly into our concept. It is not
just the style that sparks the imagination; products
are well-thought-out and ergonomic. But the thing I
was looking for right from the start was to make sure
everything had something to do with sustainability,
and to work with organisations that used sustainable
products. That was a clear link to Extremis in itself.
Another link is Extremis’ value of ‘togetherness’. One
of the little things in life that doesn’t cost anything is
having breakfast together and a good conversation.
Of course, those values correspond perfectly with the
philosophy of The Pop-Up Hotel. It was a no-brainer.
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Positive impact
