Artist creates hotel room that’s purposefully difficult to stay in

by XPRESS, 17 December 2019

Artist Christopher Samuel has designed a room for Art B&B in Blackpool that’s sole aim is to be user-unfriendly. The aim of the project is to give visitors a glimpse into some of the difficulties that those with disabilities face.

The room features a bathroom door that doesn’t close properly, a bed that is both small and very difficult to get onto and an upside-down shower gel dispenser. Creative Director of the B&B said: "You probably wouldn't spend more than a night in it in reality. I think the novelty would wear off.”

The idea was inspired when Samuel, who uses an electric wheelchair, had to spend three months in inaccessible emergency accommodation. He said that aside from inconvenience and frustration, it could be humiliating at times. His temporary accommodation was so ill-equipped that he had to sleep in his wheelchair and was unable to use the toilet because his wheelchair couldn’t fit in the bathroom.

Samuel was made homeless when two different councils began disputing his care costs and access needs. He turned some of the 500+ emails he received from the councils into a series called Housing Crisis.

He assumes the B&B room will be seen as “playful and theatrical” but hopes it was also provoke conversation.

You can check out some of Samuel's work here.

Emma Richardson