A group of disused grain silos near Christchurch in New Zealand are being fitted out as motel rooms.

New Zealand studio F3 Design came up with the concept of reusing the industrial structures, which were used to store feed for farm animals.

Once complete, the Silo Stay motel will provide eight two-bedroom suites, one family unit and a manager’s room.

Each suite will be two storeys high and will have a glazed roof, as well as a kitchen and living room.

A wood pellet boiler inside a separate silo will heat all of the rooms.

F3 Design propose that grain silos could also be reused in cities as offices or information centres.

Another strange hotel room recently featured on Dezeen is the Sleepbox, where airport passengers can take a short nap - see all our stories about hotels here.

Here's a project description from F3 Design:

Silo Stay Little River

Traditionally grain silos are found in the country filled with feed, surrounded by a distinct waft of, er, farm animals; however 'Silo Stay' based in Little River, Banks Peninsula is going against the grain. In this instance, proprietary grain silos are being used as individual motel units as part of an innovative, eco- friendly and affordable accommodation complex.

Silo Stay Little River has eight single units each sleeping two people, an accessible/family unit and a managers unit which will be erected to complete this exciting project. Visionary and founder of this project, Stuart Wright-Stow and his design team, F3 Design, are passionate about environmental sustainability so have designed an energy unit which houses a gravity fed wood pellet boiler to heat the complex. This sits within its own custom designed silo with glazed panels so you can see the energy in the making.

Each two storey unit is 8.7 metres high. The peak has a glazed lid allowing a glimpse of the night sky while relaxing in bed. Upstairs houses a queen sized bed and ensuite while downstairs has a kitchen and living area.

Silo Stay Little River is an exciting project that opens avenues for further ventures . The vision and ingenuity of this design is its versatility of uses in areas which are not necessarily accommodation complexes. These individual units or the larger family complex can be used in a myriad of situations and locations. For example, these units can easily become inner city offices, batches for secluded hideaways, home and office situations, sleep-outs, information centres, accommodation facilities for conference centres, or anything else that requires a compact vessel to accommodate the many needs of both the commercial and domestic sectors.

Along with the grain silo accommodation fit-out and configuration, F3 Design and Stuart have developed drawings for inner city office complexes. If there is a vision for the Silo Units, F3 Design will work with the client to create an exciting outcome to suit anyone's needs.