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9h Capsule Hotel, JAPAN

A Small Boutique Pod Hotel with Minimalist Luxury



Japan’s capsule hotels are often a strange concept to foreigners, but the idea is an ingenious way to handle city crowding and space constraints. The first capsule hotel in Japan was built in 1979 in Osaka.

The 9h hotel in Kyoto has been making waves in both the global design and hospitality industries thanks to its "luxury" approach. The 9h ("nine hours") will no doubt be a favorite of backpack travellers with good taste.

Capsule hotels provide guests a private sleeping area and communal amenities. While the concept has previously been utilized as a cheaper hotel option, the 9h capsule hotel adds luxury and refinement.

The bed capsule will be made up with 4-star hotel linens and provides a Panasonic system that uses light to naturally and comfortably wake you up. Fumie Shibata of Design Studio S is the mastermind behind the 9h capsule hotel.

 

Somehow, the simple elegance is almost elitist – from the branded towels and water bottles to minimalist shampoo and conditioner packs – despite this being an inexpensive place stay for frequent fliers and other stop-over travelers on the go.

In addition to 125 capsules, the structure contains locker rooms, lounges and

showers for a comfortable overnight stay.  The stark blacks and whites continue all the way through the entry halls and rows of pods and into the individual capsules themselves, surprisingly spacious and complete with adjustable lighting and digital entertainment options.

All of the iconography to guide one through the hotel complex and introduce people to its concepts reinforces the core concept of the place: simple, functional, black, white and basic from start to finish. This place serves a set of architectural and interior needs for the nine-hour period people sleep in it, then allows them to move on to the city, their next flight or other destination without needing to worry about the time spent in between.

Resources:  dornob.com, designboom.com, trendhunter.com