Helena Christensen hanging out in the trashiest hotel around. Photo: Elisabetta A. Villa, WireImage
Would you stay in a hotel made of rubbish? Helena Christensen would. It's not that she couldn't get a room at the Saint Regis Grand in Rome. Rather, Christensen - a devoted environmental activist - stayed in these humble digs to raise awareness of the issue of Europe's rubbish-strewn beaches.
The supermodel was one of the lucky few who spent the night at the Save the Beach Hotel. The hotel was made almost entirely from debris collected on beaches, including plastic bags, fishing nets, skis, toys, cans and other waste.
Those walls aren't covered in some new-fangled patterned wallpaper: It's actually rubbish! Photo: Alessandra Benedetti, Corbis Images
This trash-into-treasure structure was a temporary installation (open for just four days) by the German artist HA Schult. Schult is known for using trash as an artistic material; his 'Trash People' have been exhibited in many significant locations including the pyramids in Egypt and Moscow's Red Square. The Save The Beach Hotel was constructed in Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo. Schult told the BBC, "We are in the trash time. We produce trash and we will be trash. So this hotel is the mirror of the situation. We have to change the world, before the world changes us."
The trash adorned rooms take the idea of boho chic to the next level. Photo: Alessandra Benedetti, Corbis Images
The unusual pop-up hotel was commissioned by Corona (yes, the beer) as part of their Save the Beach campaign, whose aim is to clean up and preserve Europe's rubbish-ridden beaches. Guests were accepted to stay at the hotel's five rooms via a competition. The aim of the project was to raise awareness about the state of European beaches and the littering crisis around the globe, and was scheduled to coincide with World Environment Day, which is celebrated on June 5th each year.
Believe it or not this structure is covered in debris that was found on beaches in Europe. Photo: Alessandra Benedetti, Corbis Images
While we're dubious about the potential smell of all that rubbish, one guest said she'd give it three and a half stars on TripAdvisor.com, so it can't be all that bad! Fortunately or unfortunately - we're not sure which - you won't get the chance to experience the debris digs this summer: The pop-up hotel was only open for four days from June 3 to 7. However, it is rumoured that Schult hopes to take the trash hotel concept to other cities, so stay tuned.