The Walled Off Hotel

The Walled Off Hotel is a boutique hotel designed by anonymous London-based artist Banksy alongside other creatives and notable academic Dr David Grindon. It is located in Bethlehem, 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Ben Gurion Airport. Established in March 2017, and initially set out to only be a temporary exhibition, the hotel has since attracted nearly 140,000 visitors,[1] thanks in part to its location opposite the Israeli West Bank Barrier. The hotel is considered to be a key piece of social commentary on the conditions of those affected by the Israeli-Palestine Conflict and the historical impacts of territorial colonialism within Mandatory Palestine more broadly.

The Walled Off Hotel
The building's exterior in 2017
General information
TypeBoutique hotel
Location182 Caritas Street
Bethlehem, Palestine
Coordinates31.7193°N 35.2033°E / 31.7193; 35.2033
OpenedMarch 2017 (2017-03)
Website
walledoffhotel.com

History

Established in March 2017, the hotel is generally considered to be a follow-up to Banksy's 2015 Dismaland project, held for five days in Weston-Super-Mare in the South-West of England, making a commentary on life in coastal towns in 21st-century Britain.

Critical reception

While the reaction to the hotel as a work of art and social intervention has been mixed, especially given its location and subject matter. Critics have argued that such a building profits of tragedy, and is a case of war tourism.[2] Nonetheless, evidence has suggested that the hotel has brought more tourism to areas of the West Bank, in turn raising awareness of the realities of those affected by the conflict.[3]

References
  1. Fisher, Ian (16 April 2017). "Banksy Hotel in the West Bank: Small, but Plenty of Wall Space". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  2. Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (7 September 2017). "'Worst view in the world': Banksy opens hotel overlooking Bethlehem wall". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. Cook, Johnathan (22 December 2018). "Inside Banksy's The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem". The National. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
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