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Art and activism: Banksy secretly builds a fully-functioning hotel on the Palestinian and Israeli border

Controversial street artist Banksy has added the title ‘Hotel Developer’ to his repertoire.

He describes the fully functioning hotel as an opportunity to be “literally sleeping inside a work of art.”

Banksy walled off hotel
Photo by The Walled Off Hotel

Situated in Bethlehem, Palestine, with what he calls “the worst view in the world,” Banksy has set up a fully functioning, nine room hotel.

The hotel sits on the streets of Bethlehem, the city famous for the birth of Christ. It’s also directly next to the controversial West Bank Wall that has separated Palestine from Israel since 2002.

Starting at £30 per night, there are four types of rooms: the Artist, the Scenic, the Budget and the Presidential which are all fully customised.

The hotel, which includes a gallery and museum, is bestrewn with art (including original works by Banksy). It also includes a music room where a piano plays itself mechanically.

True to Banksy’s demeanor, the hotel was developed completely under the radar, and even building staff weren’t aware it was on behalf of the British artist.

In a statement, Banksy said, “it’s exactly one hundred years since Britain took control of Palestine and started re-arranging the furniture – with chaotic results.” According to the hotel’s website, “the aim is to tell the story of the wall from every side and give visitors the opportunity to discover it for themselves.”

Check out The Walled Off Hotel website here.

You can book a room from the 11 March 2017.