This time, we're talking to Youri from Les Cabanes d’Oostende. On his property, he created an oasis of tranquility. For some time now, he has been using the Groundfridge as an unmanned, trust-based campsite shop.
Your location, Les Cabanes d’Oostende, is situated at the intersection of two worlds. How do your guests experience this environment?
Our location offers a unique cocktail of city and greenery. The great thing is that guests can fully decide how much of both worlds they want to experience. They notice this immediately upon arrival: it even takes a moment to find the entrance. It immediately creates the feeling that you are entering a hidden gem; a secret pearl where the hustle and bustle of everyday life immediately fall away.
That idea of a hidden gem naturally aligns seamlessly, both visually and thematically, with the Groundfridge. How have you integrated the cellar into your concept?
Exactly, the Groundfridge fits beautifully with that theme. It is subtly embedded in the landscape, and we use it as our campsite shop, set up on the principle of an honesty shop. I like to see it as a kind of digital butler service: guests have complete freedom and can take whatever they want, whenever they want during their stay.
A shop based entirely on trust is a beautiful, but also daring, concept in this day and age. How does that work logistically in practice?
The concept is indeed based on mutual trust, and it works surprisingly well and organically. Guests simply take what they need at that moment. Afterwards, upon checkout, they digitally send us a photo of their selection, and payment is made. It removes the formal barrier and enhances the holiday feeling.
If we open the Groundfridge, what kind of assortment will the discerning gourmet find there?
We curate the offerings very carefully. The Groundfridge only contains products that are predominantly locally produced. In addition, we are strict about aesthetics and quality; the products must have a good, well-maintained look, but above all, they must simply be very tasty. In this way, the cellar offers an authentic culinary reflection of the region, kept at the perfect temperature by the earth.
Les Cabanes recently added a second Groundfridge to the park, which has been furnished as an intimate library. This library is not only a place to store books but also a quiet, cool retreat for guests during the hot summer. A cozy seating area has been specially created inside, surrounded by a carefully selected collection of books.
