Prefabricated containers form Reset Hotel in California's high desert

Identical shipping container-style units make up this hotel, where guests feel as though they are "on Mars" at the edge of Joshua Tree National Park, designed by Benjamin Uyeda and Gry Space.

Located in Twentynine Palms, Reset Hotel comprises 65 guest rooms spread across modular cabins that are based on the appearance and dimensions of shipping containers.

Aerial view of Reset Hotel showing shipping containers close to mountains — Reset Hotel comprises shipping container-style cabins that face the desert wilderness

Co-founded by Adam Wininger, Shannon Ching and Sumeet Parekh of HP Investors, and designer Benjamin Uyeda, the hotel was conceived as a place to disconnect and enjoy the beauty of the desert.

Locally based design studio Gry Space was responsible for the interiors across the communal spaces, branding and creative direction, while Uyeda oversaw the masterplanning and guests rooms.

Shipping container hotel room with a patio onto the desert — The Mountain View King suites occupy a full unit and have direct access to the desert

The team intentionally only built on 20 acres of the 180-acre property, leaving the rest to remain as "playa" wilderness for guests and wildlife to explore at will.

At the centre of the site is the Clubhouse, denoted by the dusty-brown-coloured containers that are distinct from the grey guest-room units.

Outdoor bathtub beside a grey shipping container — The suites each have an outdoor tub for bathing under the stars

This area includes the reception, a lounge, a covered terrace, a fire pit, and a bar that currently serves drinks and light fare.

A saltwater swimming pool and jacuzzi behind measures 1,600 square feet (150 square metres), and is surrounded by cabanas, loungers and shaded spots for cooling off in the desert heat.

Shipping container hotel room interior — Picture windows offer mountain views from the beds

The metal cuboid volumes that host the guest rooms are arranged in rows, with gaps on either side to accommodate patio spaces that act like outdoor living rooms.

Each of the Mountain View King suites occupies a full container and has an unobstructed view of the landscape from a large picture window beside the bed.

Container outfitted with simple wooden furniture — Simple wood furniture populates the container interiors

These rooms also enjoy a spacious patio with an outdoor bathtub and a lounger beside a fire pit, from which guests can wander straight into the desert.

Other modules are divided in half to accommodate one compact room at each end, with corrugated metal fences added to create privacy.

Hotel reception area decorated with earth-toned textured plaster — The reception area is decorated with earth-toned textured plaster and features a hand-patinated metal counter front

The container interiors are kept minimal, with simple wooden shelves, kitchenette cabinets and foldaway desks against white walls.

Bathrooms are lined with white penny-round tiles and feature filtered shower heads.

Co-working lounge featuring custom furniture — The co-working lounge includes custom furniture by Gry Space

"It's an architectural approach that invites guests to slow down and let the desert in, both visually and emotionally," said the Reset team.

"There are no televisions or single-use plastics, only stillness, light, nature, and comfort.

A swimming pool surrounded by loungers and cabanas, with mountains in the background — The saltwater swimming pool is surrounded by loungers and cabanas

All of the materials and textures – particularly those in the communal areas – were chosen to blend with or complement the arid mountainous backdrop.

For example, the reception desk counter is fronted with a metal panel that was hand-patinated by the design team, while walls around the pool are covered in taupe stucco plaster.

Swimming pool with low lounger, parasol, and mountains behind — The pool area is designed for cooling off in the desert heat

"The high desert is a place of beauty, challenge, and inspiration," said Uyeda. "Our design approach was simple: create the infrastructure that lets nature take centre stage."

"We used real materials that make sense in the environment and designed moments that help guests experience stillness without distraction," Uyeda said.

Decorative objects and ceramics were all sourced from local creatives, while several large furniture pieces, including a meeting table were custom-designed by Gry Space founders Jen Whitaker and Emi Kitawaki.

The duo's goal with the overall aesthetic was to create a minimalist "as if humans were living on Mars" they told Dezeen.

Outdoors loungers at night — Earth tones are applied with a minimalist approach throughout the property

"We love when we can join a project early enough to shape the identity across branding, space and photography," said Whitaker and Kitawaki.

"Having a hand in the full spectrum allows us to create something refined and seamless."

Shipping container room with outdoor patio at night — Smaller guest rooms feature private outdoor lounge spaces designed for stargazing

The high desert area north of Joshua Tree National Park is home to a variety of accommodation options that range from Airstream glamping parks to gabled metal Folly cabins.

Another shipping container project in this desert, a concept for a residence formed from splayed volumes, was never built but put up for sale for $3.5 million in 2020.

The photography is by Gry Space.

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