He turned shipping containers into hotel apartments in Ghana _ Residential container tour

In today's video we're going to be walking you through this community built out of shipping containers. We're going to be walking through with the builder who's going to be taking us through his entire process and all of that fun information. At the end of this video we're also going to be talking to the manager of the space that is being used for commercial purposes to talk us through his numbers and some other interesting details so definitely stay with us. This community has six units so six double-story units. This is also the first residential container that we're going to be walking through together. Okay so most of the times we have we show you what's inside but we don't actually walk through but today we're actually walking through a residential unit. If you're interested in the other container videos that we have covered I will link the playlist to that up here up here. I'll link it up here in the card so that you can click and check out our other videos. So let's just check it out. We're here with Eric Jima who built this lovely project behind us with the owner. So he's going to be talking us through his build process and all of those little things in between. Hi Eric. Hello. Hi nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too. Okay so you've got this very unique different thing behind us and we just want to get into your head a bit and learn some more about the work that you've done. Okay all right talk us through the experience building this project. What was that like for you? It was exciting. Let me just use the very simple way. It was a new project. The terrain was quite new as you can see. The mountain is very steep. How the containers even moved from downhill uphill alone was a whole adventure and it was exciting like I said. That's the word to summarize it. So talk us through working on this topography because the land is very slopey and then the hill gets in here. It was a joke. That's steep. Okay tell me how you got your tracks up here with the container and all of that. Okay so apparently it wasn't the tracks. The tracks couldn't come uphill here with a container. So we actually dragged the containers with a bulldozer. Whoa. Yeah on the ground on the ground. We've dragged all these containers on the ground with two bulldozers. Okay. Because one bulldozer could not even climb up the hill with the containers. So the containers were down the hill and we dragged all of them from underground. Wow. Up here and then we also dragged the crane cars up here. So the crane cars came to lift them and offload all of them over here. It wasn't a joke. It took us almost about almost about two weeks. Just getting up here? Yeah. Whoa. The containers were stacked down there for all of them were stacked down there. We got the previous arrangement we made for them to get up here didn't work. So we tried a couple of them till we finally decided to use the bulldozer. Okay. To drag them here. So about almost about two weeks the containers were stacked down there and we dragged all of them one one one up here. That's very interesting. So in the two weeks you were able to get all six up here? Oh yeah yeah yeah. It's not actually six. It's 12 containers. Okay because you have. Yeah yeah. So each unit consists of two shipping containers. 20-footer container up and a 40-footer container down and the base which is the foundation I'm sitting on which we are using as the kitchen was built. So it's the kitchen the 40-footer. The 40-footer is a one-bedroom self-contained with your hall and everything. Then the upstairs doesn't have a hall but it's a bedroom with a toilet and bath and you also have a very big balcony to enjoy the view. Because it's all about the view. It's all about the view. It's beautiful here. Okay but then tell me why you guys decided to go for concrete at the base? Is there a specific reason why you didn't do containers throughout? Okay so basically the reason why we did concrete was the nature of the land. Okay. The land wasn't flat as you can see. Even we worked on it. We've actually worked on it a lot before we were able to have it like this. Okay. So the land was in such a way that at the top was a bit high and the sloping is also very steep. Very steep. So to be able to position the containers in such a way that we wanted all the containers to be aligned as you can see. Right. We didn't want some of them to be down some of them to be up. Okay. So basically the whole like the conclusion was to create a foundation based on the slope of the land. Because with the bricks and mortar we can actually work around the slope to get a very uniform alignment. So that's why we decided to use the blocks for the base so that we can get that alignment and the containers will come and sit so that all of them will be on the same level. Thank you. Okay. So before we go inside let's talk a bit about the structure itself. The exterior. Let's talk about the materials that you used over here. So we can see that you've cladded the container with the wood finish. Tell us why you decided to do that. Does it have anything to do with the area that we're in? We actually cladded this whole project because of three reasons. First of all because of the beauty to add beauty to the whole container. Secondly to also provide insulation to provide the heat barrier and also to provide protection for the container against the rust. Because the project is quite close to the sea. So during the night the breeze you know already has got a lot of salt in it. So to break that barrier so that the breeze doesn't get direct contact with the container. That's why you put the cladding around it. Okay. Yeah. So Eric we see that you only have planters with a few plants inside. Is there a specific reason why you don't have a bit more greenery in the space? Like I said this place was a virgin land. There was so little development when we started this project. And since it's a mountainous area it has a lot of scorpions and snakes around. There was a lot of scorpions and snakes when we were working and all that. So the owner of the project and also per my advice we decided to limit every plant in here for now. So that as development and also we're doing a lot of fumigation to actually push them away and reduce the snakes and scorpions within this area. Then later. So we actually made allocations for some few places that we'll be planting. But we decided to cement the whole place. When the time is up we will dig in there. Then we'll plant the trees. Okay. Okay. So currently how are you taking care of that situation? You spray the area. We do a lot of fumigation like almost every month. Every month we do two times. Like we fumigate the place two times in a month. And when we started even it was like once a week. Yeah once a week. Because the whole place was quite filled with all these bush. There was a lot of bushes around and all that. So they were they were all around. But as you can see people have started developing since this project came here. There's a lot of development going around. Can we talk a few numbers. Can you tell us what it would cost us to get something like this without the concrete base. Just maybe one level. So your middle level that has your bedrooms and then your living area. Yeah. Kitchen area. Tell us how much it would cost for something like that. Okay. So let's say you want to use a 40-feeter. You want to use a 40-feeter to get a bedroom that this one has got. A toilet and bath that this one has got. A living room that this one has got with a glass air-conditioning. We are talking almost about 70,000 Ghana cities. All right Eric. So if you could kindly walk us through your building. The building. Yeah. So what is the arrangement like over here? Okay. So we have two units. Like as you can see the very top unit which is a which is a one bedroom apartment. The second bedroom and the kitchen. So let's go to the top unit. Okay. And have a look at how the top. The top unit consists of a bedroom, a toilet but it's actually an open concept. Oh it's like a studio. Yes like a studio. So you let's go there have a look at it. So the top room has been separated from the middle unit. Okay. You got a middle unit connects to the kitchen downstairs. Okay. So if you have a family or somebody who is coming in the person wants to cook and wants to have their own time. There is a kitchen which is the downstairs. So the downstairs connected to the middle one. Okay. But the top one has been separated. So that in case somebody wants to actually just take that down but doesn't want to take the top. Okay. You don't have that inconvenience of the person being up having access to. Okay. The room downstairs. But if it's a family of two and you want to take a full two bedroom apartment the whole unit is available. Right. Okay. There's the top room or the top apartment which is just like a one bedroom studio with your toilet and bath behind you at a stream. Okay. Back of the structure. So when you ask about the plumbing this is one of the techniques we used when we were considering the plumbing waste. We run all the plumbing through the back. Okay. Of the structure. So all the bathrooms were sent to the back of the container so that we can easily run the pipe at the back. Okay. To the ground. Yes so that's it but I think with the middle and the kitchen floor there are some kitchens and there are some waterworks somewhere. On the side. On the side. So some of the pipes are running on the side to the ground. So there is the bathroom and toilet. There's your small wardrobe to keep your your clothes. Then you have your bed. There's a double bed. Since it's a container we wouldn't advise a king-size bed because a king-size bed will almost take the whole space. So there's a queen-size that's good enough to accommodate two adults. And then you have your small sitting area right over here. It's an open concept so that's why we don't have any walls. They also the walls also limit the spaces inside. Right. So that's why you have an open concept. You can come out and sit here. So the bed with a headboard there is mostly for privacy. For privacy. Because without that there would be a creation of some illusion of space. Space yes. I think but right now it blocks it. It blocks it. Okay so if we had this unit right and then we wanted to instead of this bed fit a kitchen somewhere here right. And then maybe have a sofa bed that opens up into a bed. So that this would be like a complete studio unit. That could work right easily. How much would it cost us? Let me say I wouldn't be able to give you an exact figure. So let me just give you a rough figure because the prices keeps on changing and all that. So for you to work on let's say a one-bedroom studio apartment in a 40-feeter container. Let's do 20-foot first. You want to do 20-foot. A 20-foot I wouldn't advise for you to have a bedroom and a kitchen in there. Why? There will be little room for ventilation. Very very little room for ventilation. So even this room is a 30 feet. Okay. It's like this actually a 20-feeter container. The 20-feeter container ended here. Oh okay. So from the back to this side it's a foreign container. And then from here it's locally made. We did an extension for it. So if you just imagine having a 20-feeter ending here. Your bedroom, your bathroom, the kitchen coming in. If your land where you are going to put up the structure is quite big. The kitchen can be incorporated to come just outside the container but not inside the container. That's if it's on the ground. It's like it's a grounds where we can easily just create a kitchen extension that will just easily connect from your bedroom to the kitchen. Okay. Yeah. So that can be done. Force the kitchen here and then force a little bit. No it can be forced in there. It will be tight. It will be tight. Okay. You're going to cook there. If you have plans of cooking there we will not advise. But if you just want it for decoration say just to have some breakfast. Breakfast. Oh yeah you can you can you can you can definitely have that. But it's not a kitchen that you can actually cook there. Probably. Then most of the food is going to come back to the room and all that. Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. So with the extension with your 10 additional 10. Yes. So for something like this if we were building a studio unit with a kitchen and then the bed living area set up. How much how much would it cost? Oh let's uh we are looking around 60,000 Ghana cities. 60,000. Yeah 60,000 Ghana cities will be able to give you a kitchen, a bedroom, a toilet and bath in a 20-feet container. But mind we'll be doing a little extension for the kitchen. Okay to provide for the kitchen. Yes. Okay. Okay. So that's about 30 feet for 60,000. So will this include a finished bathroom, finished kitchen? Yes. Yes. All installed. Everything. But you're not going to get a condition. Okay. You get fans, you get your lights and there's one thing that I don't know if you've taken notice here. We don't have fans in here. Yeah. The reason why we don't have fans in here. One is because of the height. Okay. There's a 20-feeter. Most of the 20-feeter containers are low cubic. The low cubic containers are 7.5 feet. That's the standard ones that the shipping lines use. It's the 40 40-feeter containers that you have the high cubic and low cubic. Right. And most of the 40-feeters at least the high cubic is quite available. So if you if you go to the room downstairs you realize that the height of the room is quite taller than this. So when you are working with a 20-feeter container we don't normally fix fans. If we're going to fix the fan it needs to be the wall fan. And secondly the more reason why we didn't fix fans here is that in the mornings and evenings you can't use the air conditioning. You can't use the fan. The place becomes very cold. Okay. The place becomes where there's a lot of wind. So all you need is to open your windows or open your doors and there's a lot of wind here in the mornings and in the evenings. Your windows have allowed for some cross ventilation. Yeah. Windows were built for to allow cross ventilation. So the wind comes in and goes out. But that's what I was wondering what you would put between because you're saying this so there's no rock wall, glass wall, nothing between the the plasterboard and the metal. Doesn't that affect your heat insulation in some way? No. No? No. Actually we did a system called ceiling joints before we attach the plasterboard. The ceiling joint has allowed space. There is a two inch space between the container and the plasterboard that you're seeing in here. So the plasterboard is not directly attached to the container. We did a ceiling joint which allows a two inch space between the container and the plasterboard. So this plasterboard you're seeing has got a two inch, it has got empty spaces inside which retains the heat that transports from it. Yeah, that's it. Okay. And then for the floor we see you used tiles. So like I said the shipping containers, when they come and you're able to have, you're able to have a history of the what the container have done. If it has, if it's not a container that has mostly been used for chemical transportation and all that, you can easily work around the wood, probably even polish it and have a parquet or wooden floor which is also very nice. But with this particular project looking at the purpose of the project, especially being a commercial project, we wouldn't advise wood floor because wood floor needs or requires so much maintenance. So we took out the wood floor and also we did tiling for it. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So let's check your balcony out and then we can head downstairs. I'll let you open your door. So we've got a very nice, it's very airy out here, very, very windy, breezy. It's nice. Yes. Very nice view as well. You're enjoying it. Yes, I am. This is the whole surprise to Villa de Tuga. Standing here, looking at the whole Kokrovite township, having a look at the sea with the different shades, it makes, at least it adds, it adds so much beauty. Your shade matches the sea. That's a different, different shades of the sea. So that's it. So this is the balcony that you enjoy when you are staying at the upper terrace. And all the, the middle terrace as you have a balcony, the downstairs, wouldn't also enjoy a balcony as this. So this is what you get to enjoy if you're staying at the upper terrace. At night, in the morning, sitting here, having around five o'clock, looking at the sunset and also taking some tea or something, it's just heartwarming. It will look really nice early in the morning and then in the evening. In the evening, you'll love it. And even now, it's afternoon, but the wind is very strong here. Even though the sun is up, the wind is strong here and which gives it some balanced feeling. It's not too hot, it's not too cold. Yeah, so it's very, very interesting. It's lovely. It's really lovely. The water, then you got, I don't know if that's supposed to be a hill. No, it's also another mountain. Yeah, from afar, it looks like just a hill, but when you get close, it's also a mountain. It's also a mountain. It's beautiful. You got a bit of greenery over here. You can see the township. It's lovely. When you finally plant those trees, this whole area will have more greenery. Very lovely. Okay, so Eric, could you have used, what else could you have used instead of this timber to clad this exterior? Okay, there are so many other options that you can use. You can use cement board, which is water resistant, also heat resistant, and we could also use TNG, the plastic TNG. This is the wooden TNG. You can use the plastic TNG, but there's a catch to the plastic TNG. It sort of absorbs heat because it's plastic, because of the plastic material, and it also sort of absorbs heat. The wood rather repels the heat, so that's why we decided to use the wood. So, looking at that option, that plastic TNG, cement board, or the wood. The 60,000 codes you just gave us, the 60,000 cities, is that exclusive of the cladding? It includes the wood. The 60,000 is inclusive of the wooden cladding? Yes. Oh, wow. Okay. Yes. Okay, well, so what is your roofing system like? Okay, this is where you don't get to see the roofing sheet, but basically, the roofing has been done in such a way that it's sloping to the side, the side of the structure. It's going to the back of the container, because it's kind of too close to the wall. So, it's going to create, and the back of the water is very narrow, as you can see. So, directing all this water to the back is going to create a whole mess at the back. So, we direct all the water to the side, so it goes to the side, and it runs down. I see your drainage pipe, so the slope is this way. The slope is this way, so it's able to spread all the water. But if it's going to the back, the whole pressure is going to just one direction at the back, and it now needs to find its way to run down here. Okay. Okay, now you've got your external units all on the first, your ACs and everything. Yes, all the ACs, everything is on the ground floor over there. Okay, right. Let's check out the floor beneath us. The floor beneath. Okay, sure. Let's go. Derek, please talk us through attaching the staircase to the building. Is it just a basic? That was quite simple, as you can see. It's a metal staircase, which has been cladded with wood. Okay. So, we only built the metallic staircase and attached it to the main metallic frame, and the ground was also attached to the foundation. Okay. So, at least it's very firm, it's attached to the container, it's attached to the foundation very firmly. We cladded it with wood to give it some uniformity with the whole structure itself. Right, right. Did you treat this wood though? Yes, all the wood is treated. Okay. To be able to withstand the outdoor atmosphere, so we treated all of it. You've got some astroturf. Yeah. And then... At least to give it some green. Some greenery. Yes, that's it. Like I said, we couldn't plant a lot because of the scorpions and all. So, we actually incorporated some artificial greens into the relaxing area. Because this place is the relaxing areas for the clients when they come. Going downstairs, we know they don't enjoy the view as much as this side. So, the people who are lodging into the middle apartments can walk into their own balcony. So, this is sort of their own balcony to also enjoy the view. So, we're in the mid-level. We're on the mid-level. Okay. So, talk us through this space. I prefer this to the other one. To the other one? For a few... I don't know. You don't like my balcony? I love the balcony. Well, this is quite big. Yes, this is much bigger. This is more homey. There's a kitchen downstairs. There's a kitchen downstairs. And then, your wardrobe here is smaller. So, it fits your space better You see the way it was long in the other one, fighting with the headboard. I didn't like that. So, I think I prefer this. And maybe your sheets here are also nicer. Okay. So, this is a one-bedroom apartment. Okay. That's your bed. This place is also an open concept as you can see. So, we didn't actually put in any walls to divide. So, your bathroom and your toilet is also behind you. And then, you have your bed which has got a very long headrest just to provide some bit of privacy between the bathroom and here. And then, you have your small... let me say a station to put in your books or read when you come here. You want to find a small space to do your reading, to pray, to write. You can do that right over here. Okay. And then, we have a living area. So cozy. We have a 42-inch television. We also have a decoder system. All the wires, as you can see, they run through the system and go outside. Okay. And then, you also have this view to enjoy when you are watching your TV. There's another view you will enjoy when you are in this particular parlour. So, you sit here to enjoy your TV and also enjoy the view as well. Yeah. Also, lets in a lot of natural light. Thank you. Yeah. As you can see. And then, we also have a stairs. This wooden stairs, as you can see, it takes you to the kitchen. Let's go to the kitchen. Before that, we see that over here, you have cross ventilation. The windows at the back allow that. But then, here you can't push out. You can't push out. You mostly have to use an AC in this space. No. There's a window here. Right. Okay. There is a window here. So, that gets some air inside. It brings a lot of air. Okay. It brings a lot of air here. Okay. All right. And all the windows, as you can see, also has the netting. The netting. So, at night, you can actually open it to have more wind here. And then, no mosquitoes or insects will be able to come in. Okay. So, let's check out your downstairs area. There's the downstairs, which is the ground floor. It takes you to the kitchen, as you can see. It's a very small kitchen because, of course, the visitors over here don't need too much kitchen for any commercial. It's just for your private use. So, you've got your cabinets, storage to keep some few things. And you also have some few things that we also give for the client. Your fridge, your electric gas stove, your sink for your anything that you want to really do cook your love, which I like so much. So, the kitchen is also ready if you want to use it. Everything is in here. Okay. Oh, your walls block the view. Yeah, the walls block the view. So, you can't see a lot. That would have been a very nice view for your kitchen. Cooking and seeing the view. But over here, you have a view. Yeah, over here, you have a view. So, you can at least also enjoy the view. But I want you to concentrate whilst cooking so that your food doesn't get burnt. So, when you're done, you can go upstairs and enjoy the view. Okay. Okay. That's cool. Yeah. All right. Eric, there are a couple of things that we'd like to know about this construction that you've done. Okay. Can you talk us through your drainage process? What was that like for you? As you can see, the whole container has been cladded with wood. Okay. Behind the wood that you are seeing is where all the air conditioning, most of the air conditioning pipes and the plumbing pipes are running through. Okay. And then it's been covered with the wood. If we're not going to use the wood to clad it, we would have definitely found another way to run it beneath the foundation of the container or normally it goes behind the container. But this particular project, everything was, the plumbing pipes are around the container but it's been cladded with the wood so you don't get to see. Oh, that's interesting. Okay. So, when you were, so how did you stack it? You used a crane? Yeah, we used a crane. Talk us through that process. Okay. So, like I said, we brought in the containers downhill, uphill with a bulldozer. We arranged all of them up here then and then we also dragged in the crane car, two crane cars. They couldn't climb up. The road, the road you are seeing is way better now. No, it's way better. Yeah, no, it's way better, way better now. Previously, when we come to start the work here, it was way, way rough, like it was a virgin place. So, the place was a bit rough. So, we dragged the crane cars, two crane cars uphill and they did their work. Lift, one lifting to a point, dropping it, the other one also taking it from a point because the place was very rocky. So, they couldn't move freely all about. So, we needed to station two of them at a point. So, one brings it to a point, the other one lifts it to a point and then we arrange all of them. It was, it was, it was, it was quite difficult but I think we did the first unit first and that was the most difficult because that was right, that was, that one was going, let me say, to the extreme side of the land because you come in from here. Yeah, so, we did that, we did a second and I think the rest, it went easy. Yes. So, Eric, can you talk us through the insulation type you used on this project? Okay, so, we actually provided two insulation types for this project. One is the exterior. The exterior, as you can see, we use the wood. We use a combination of pine wood and local wood. This one is denia. Okay. Denia wood from Ghana, locally produced and here in Ghana. These are foreign woods, which is the pine wood. Normally, we use, you see them in these pallets but they're not, but it's not a pallet, these are pine woods. So, there are two types of insulation that we use outside. Oh, so, the finish. Okay, I see the difference. You can see. Yeah, I can see the difference. So, and then the interior, we use plasterboard. Okay. For the ceiling, the walls, we use plasterboard. Plasterboard has been able to prove that it's able to retain heat with most of the, even the block work, wooden structures, container structures. Plasterboard has always proven to have that quality to keep the interior room always cool. We did a paint, like you can see, just this normal paint work, but the wood, as you can see, it's not normal paint. It's what we call wood stain. The woods have got their own paints that we use. We don't use normal paints for wood, but with the inside is the normal paints that we use for them. And the containers also, as well, we're giving anti-rust coating before the whole cladding was done to also protect in case there's any space for the breeze to get in to get in contact with the metal. At least, it's going to protect it. Okay, talk us through treating the container itself before treating it. So, that process to make it safe for habitation. Okay, sure. So, the shipping container itself, you know, basically, they are meant for industrial use. When you are buying them, that is where you need to be careful depending on what you are going to use it for. Some of them have been used over time to be able to transport chemicals. So, when you are buying those types in particular, it is not too good to use it straight away for residential purposes like this. Where you normally have to treat is the wood that they have on the base of container. You need to change all of them. So, this one, as you can see, we changed all of them and we tiled it. With the metal, it was okay. What we did was to provide an anti-rust system for it. Then, we did a coating and that's it. Okay. Now, for this side of town, I know that there are some earthquake prone zones. I don't know if this particular site is one of those, but what did you do to this to make it a bit more earthquake resistant? Talking about earthquakes or let me say tremors, it's not quite common around here. Okay. It's not quite common around here, but notwithstanding that, as you can see, the foundation was built on very solid concrete and it's very firm to the ground. Then, we also attached the containers. We provided a lock, a metal lock systems for the containers. So, all the containers that you see, the first container is actually locked to the foundation. The second container, as you can see, is also locked to this foundation. So, unless this foundation comes up, this particular container cannot fall. Right. So, it's not just sitting on it. It's actually locked in a way that the foundation is holding everything together. Okay. How long did the entire community take and then how long did it take to build each individual project? We did everything at a go. Okay. The whole project was done simultaneously. Okay. So, we worked on it. It took us one year. It would have been less, but there was a bit of some delays. Right. Especially, getting logistics up the hill was glass. There was a time that a car that was bringing in our glass fabrication somersaulted on the hill. Whoa. Yes. So, we went through some few challenges and that delayed us. But, it took us one year. Okay. 12 months to finish this whole project. Okay. Yes. But, on a regular day with regular land, how quickly do you build a one-bedroom unit? A one-bedroom unit with a shipping container takes six weeks. Nice. Yeah, it takes six weeks and we are done. Wow. Yes. Okay. Then, this was a very long span for you. So, it's a long time. Yeah. There was, like I said, challenges. There were so many challenges that came. Then, we were also doing a lot of research whilst we were working. There were things that we actually did wait to see the results. Right. Before we move on. So, it wasn't like everything was just there and we're there. Because, as we're moving on, we realized that we also needed to make some adjustments and also be sure some of the things we're doing. Okay. In terms of the wind, the wind was one big factor. Working around there from six o'clock in the evening going, the wind is very strong here. It's very, very strong. So, as you can see, we placed the containers against it. Against it. Then, we actually waited and tested the wind against the containers as to see how solid they would be on the foundation before we even continued with the work and all that. Yes. How long have these been here for? Two years. Two years. Yes. Okay. Villa de Tuga is two years old. Almost two years old. Nice. So, that means it is standing the test of time. Yeah, it is. How long, how long, what's the lifespan of the container? Oh, the container has got a very long lifespan. I can't be specific. Some of the shipping containers, they even use for shipping. Some of them, if you check their years of existence, some of them have been in existence for 20 years, 30 years before they discard them that people even go and buy to use them for like their own residential and other projects. So, if everything should go well, this project should, I can't be specific, but it should be able to last for a very long time. Yes. Okay. So, Eric, tell us a bit about some of the challenges that you faced excluding the transportation and stuff like that. What other challenges did you face working on this project with the material? The challenges are not new to us because you've been working with shipping. So, it's the general challenges that you get to have when you're working with shipping containers. Okay. They are, I wouldn't call them challenge because it's quite easier working on shipping containers than working with bricks and mortar. Okay. The only challenge we got when we were working here is just the transportation and the place also being on a hill, not on a level land, which only gave us, after we placed the containers, we actually didn't have any more challenge. And actually, a few or one I could talk about is the wind. Working over here from four o'clock or three o'clock in the evening, it's quite dim because as you can see the project is quite up. So, mounting scaffolds, going up there with the wind sometimes around three o'clock, four o'clock against you is very dangerous. That was the major challenge apart from that logistics, which I've already spoken to you about getting materials here. Apart from that, everything went smooth, right? Everything went smooth. Okay. Yes. Okay. And then let's talk about the response of the people to this design. Let's talk about the people in the community and then the guests that you've had live here. What has the perception and reception been like? The people in the community, I would say when we started, everybody was amazed. Looking at we, even they saw us when we were dragging the containers down the hill with the bulldozers up. Everybody was wondering what we were up, where we are. And then later they saw the containers lined up. Still, even when we told people that we're using it for a hotel or a residential building, a lot of people didn't get the idea. A lot of people kind of wondered how we're going to do it. But as time went on, the project was progressing steadily. Everybody saw it and they were amazed. I'm sure everybody that have been here, when we're here, people would drive all the way just to have, or just to confirm that it's shipping container that we're using to build the project. And even till now, people still wonder how we use shipping containers to build it. So, that sort of surprising feeling is still there every time you get it. Yeah, that's interesting. All right, Eric. So, thank you so much for your time. We'll leave your contact information in the description if anybody's interested. That's nice. In working with you, so they can reach out. So, thank you so much. Thank you too, mommy, for your time. Bye. Bye. We're with Chris Educhimisi, who was the project manager on this project and is currently the manager. Sure. So, he's going to be talking us through a little bit of the rental aspect of this property. If you're interested in using container homes for rental purposes or for commercial purposes, this is a great person to speak to. So, that's what we're going to be doing. So, hi, Chris. Yeah, hi. Hi. Hi, mommy. So, can you please tell us a bit about what the perception of your residents have been, your guests that have come in? How have they responded to the product? Yeah, I would say it's good. It's been very good. Good in the sense that a lot of people never expected containers to be built and used as rental purposes or in a very, should I say, as a hospitality industry type of accommodation. So, and also it being on the hill, the location is also quite impressive. So, most of the people who come here are very curious to know how it is and they get very surprised and they enjoy the place, the scenery and all that. So, I would say in a whole, it's good. I mean, it's been good. Even though we have our own one or two challenges, especially climbing up the hill. It's quite scary and I think we have more to do, which is also on the drawing board. There's a lot more coming up. This is just a sample we have displayed here. So, you have future projects with a similar concept? Yeah, yeah. Very, very huge and very ambitious projects coming up. This is just, should I say, a sample. Right. This is your test? Yes, it's a sample. That's interesting. So, talk me through what the sound insulation in here is like. You have a lot of guests. I mean, people want privacy and all of that. So, do you have any complaints when it comes to sound from this external? This is your commercial area. You have events out here. Yes. So, what's that like on the inside? When it's noisy out here, do you have any complaints from your guests inside? Yes, not too much. We don't have too much complaints. If you are in there because it has this glass thing and it's quite insulated. But not, especially when we have events here, we try as much as possible to inform our guests. We do a lot of promos on social media and all that. So, they know when to come if you don't want too much noise. But we don't do too many events here, especially loud events. Because of the nature of our service, we are more to do get away. Get away in a very quiet place and see within Greater Accra, not outside. So, we don't do a lot of events. Our events are periodically not too much. When we have events, they know. And we tell you that there's events here, we can't really disturb you a little bit and all that. But we don't go full blown noise here. No, we don't. Yes. So, in terms of demand, can you talk us through your occupation rate? When it comes to demand, we look at it. Basically, the weekend days are here. We have a lot of weekend activities here. During the week, you have a few business people who pass through. Maybe just have a business meeting or maybe they are tired. They just want to hop in from Monday to let's say Wednesday or something. But the weekdays are a bit on the slow side. But weekends are very active. The weekends, everybody's rushing here. On Friday going, people start calling. In fact, from Wednesday to Thursday, the whole place is already booked. Yeah. And so, it's quite, I mean, jammed here on weekends. Yeah. But weekdays, it's chill. It's cool like you can see today. But even though it's a weekday, you guys are having a party here today. You can imagine. You can see them setting up. Yeah. I think people like the scenery because of the photography and videos and all that. They can't help it but to come and have their parties here. So, I think that's one of the reasons. But when it comes to occupation rate, it's very high on weekend. Yeah, very high. Yes. So, what are your rates over here? The rates are just like, it's very affordable. Very, very affordable. So, it looks like people want to be here. And we have two types of accommodation. I think they took you through it. Yeah. We have the one that has a kitchen. It's a studio apartment with a kitchen and then should I call it a mini hall with your sofa, your TV, and I mean, the ACs and the bath and the tubs and all that. So, that one is more of a high-end type. And then you have the top which is without a kitchen, a studio apartment without a kitchen. But funnily enough, that's the popular demand because even though, yeah, that is more to do, it's a budgeted type, more of the low budget. But you will not believe it, it's over subscribed because people want to see the ocean, the view. So, we have that one that is more affordable. Yes. So, these are the rates. If you want me, you want me to... Yeah, I want your numbers. Oh, okay. Okay. So, the ones that have the kitchen normally goes for between 500, 450 cities based on demands. You know, in the hospitality industry, we don't have fixed prices. It's based on demand. So, the base, I'm showing you just the base rates when there's no full occupancy. You are looking at between 500 to 450 cities, Ghana cities. Yes. That is per night. But when we take it up to, you are taking it on a long period, let's say weekly or monthly or something, we normally slash off 20% discount for you to make it easier for you to stay around and all that. So, and then the one, the budget type basically ranges from 370 to 350. That's the range. So, and also, it's the same as the other one based on demand. If the demand is high, we raise it a bit. So, that's what I'll say about that. Okay, that's interesting. Well, so what services do you offer here? Eric was telling me you have a washing, a laundry area somewhere down here. Yes. Can you talk us through the services? Yeah, we do laundry. We have laundry services. We also have a bar area where it's like you have a restaurant. You serve both local and continental cuisines. We have some few recreational activities here based on demand. Some of them, we have this table tennis. We are planning to add more to it. We are building a pool area. Currently, we have inflatable pool here where people swim when they come. Based on demand, we just open it up for them. But we are building actually an infinity pool down there on the other next area. And then, I think we have a cinema. Yeah, an outside cinema here and football, you know, for the football craze, people like myself, on weekends, Friday to Sunday, it's active. We build a very huge projector. And music is also here if you want to dance. We have a lot of candle piece. When we fix it during the weekend, people come have their mini parties. So you could even have about five or six parties going on at the same time here. Yes. So basically, but we don't want it to be too loud because it's a getaway. So yes, yes, yes, yes. But there's more in the pipeline. Like I told you, it's a sample. So we are looking at the market. It's really interesting what you've been able to do with these containers. So you're talking about more. Can you tell us a bit about the more that is coming up so that we'll have something to look forward to? Because we'll definitely be back if we have more. Yes. This is, we have other projects that we are embarking on. I wouldn't be too comfortable divulging everything, but let me give you a tip. You can tell me when we go out. For the viewers, we actually even have a hotel that is coming up. Almost like seven to nine storey building hotel. Okay. Yeah. Just around the vicinity. What is it built out of? That is a brick and mortar. So it's not a container as it, as this one. And also we will be building more of these ones around the same area. Yeah. So we are, we are looking at extending this one and also to other regions. We are invading other regions and, I think I'll leave it there. That's nice. That's ambitious. Yeah. Very, very, very. Yes. So thank you so much, Chris. Thank you for your time and for sitting with us for a bit. You're welcome. I hope that you enjoyed this video. If you did, don't forget to leave a like, share with your friends and family that may find it interesting. And if you'd like to contact Eric, I'll leave his information in the description below so that you can reach out to him directly. So hopefully I see you in my next video. Have a beautiful day, a beautiful week and an amazing life. Bye.