Hotels are buildings where people meet their needs such as resting, eating, drinking and having fun during their travels. Different structures have been used for this purpose in every period of history. The capsule hotels that emerged in Osaka, Japan in 1979 were designed with the idea of meeting these needs cheaply and conveniently. It has become widespread in a short time, especially in Japan, where it originated, and has also been used in countries such as China, Hong Kong and South Korea. In recent years, more luxurious and well-equipped capsule hotels have started to serve and attracting many people to these hotels to experience the capsules.
The foundations of capsule architecture are based on the Japanese metabolism and the Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa in Tokyo in 1972, is considered as the first example. The building, where office and residential functions coexist, consists of 140 capsules. In the building designed for businesspeople working in the city center, the modules (capsules) attached to the body are designed with a mechanism that can be disassembled and replaced.
Capsule hotels, which are generally used for one-night stays or for short-term visits, are preferred because of their cheaper prices compared to other hotels. In the rooms (capsules) that are sized to fit a bed and at a height where people can sit on the bed, facilities such as television, internet and sockets are mostly available. In the capsules placed on 2 floors, the upper floors can be reached by stairs. Functions such as cafe-restaurant and shower-sauna are placed separately from the capsules. After guests complete their work in these areas, they go to their capsule.
In this article, examples of capsule hotels, which have become very popular in recent years, will be examined.
9 Hours Capsule Hotel/ Japan
Continuing the tradition of Japanese capsule hotel, 9 Hours hotel creates its concept by allocating 9 hours (1 hour + 7 hours + 1 hour) for shower-sleep-dressing needs. The capsules are designed based on the cocoon shape with soft edges so that the users do not feel stuck inside. The hotel has a shower area and a cafeteria, as well as storage areas where guests can store their belongings. In the hotel, which carries traces of Japanese minimalist architecture, sharp colors such as black and white were preferred. You can visit these capsules in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka and Miyagi in Japan.
Cocoon-shaped capsules at the 9 Hours hotel
Capsule Hotel, Lucerne/ Switzerland
The capsule hotel in Lucerne is preferred for a low-priced and comfortable stay close to the historical city center and the train station in Switzerland. Apart from the capsules, the hotel has a shared living room & study areas and the city of Lucerne can be watched from the roof terrace. On the other hand, the capsules, are designed with futuristic elements in accordance with the space theme, and each capsule is equipped with automatic systems, considering it like a spaceship.
Design based on spaceships in Swiss capsule hotel
CityHub Amsterdam/ Holland
CityHub, which started to be used as a capsule hotel with the refunctioning of an old warehouse, is located close to the important cultural spots of Amsterdam. The hotel with its brick walls, has a cozy and inviting atmosphere and a communal dining area. The capsules are wider and higher than traditional ones and they have shelves and mirrors inside.
CityHub Amsterdam's capsule rooms
Book and Bed Tokyo/ Japan
This hotel that located in Japan attracts the attention of book lovers. The hotel, which combines accommodation and bookstore functions, can be defined as a library where guests can sleep. The hotel, which has close to 1,700 books in Japanese and English, is designed to allow users to read wherever and whenever they want. Some capsules surrounded by bookshelves allow readers to sleep between books.
Capsules that can sleep between books / © Toshiyuki Yano
The Jane Hotel/ USA
The historic Jane Hotel is located in New York and designed by William A. Boring. It was mostly used by sailors in the 1900s. The hotel, which hosted 100 people who survived the Titanic disaster in 1912, is today an alternative to the expensive hotels of New York. Unlike other capsule hotels, they have rooms at normal heights; however, bunk beds and narrow corridors reduce the comfort of the rooms.
The Jane Hotel rooms
Resources:
https://mymodernmet.com/schemata-architects-tokyo-capsule-hotel/
https://ninehours.co.jp/concept
https://www.uniqhotels.com/blog/the-best-capsule-hotels/
https://www.uniqhotels.com/capsule-hotel-lucerne
https://www.uniqhotels.com/the-jane-hotel
