Tokyo-based architecture studio Naruse Inokuma Architects has designed a new capsule hotel in Osaka, Japan, pushing the boundaries of traditional capsule hotels with more functionality, a rich comfort and staying experience.

Called Nine Hours Capsule Hotel, the 994-square-metre hotel has been designed as a project that revolutionizes capsule hotel concept, setting a new standard for these types of hotels. 

As the studio highlights, the business model, called the capsule hotel, first began in Japan specializing only in offering cheap stays, and the comfort of their lodging spaces have long been overlooked. 

Naruse Inokuma Architects designed a completely new form of capsule hotel that reinvents its conventional image and pursues functionality while simultaneously providing a rich staying experience.

Specifically, in the new design, the wet areas are made more habitable in order to lessen the stress of downtimes, such as the time spent in between showering and going to sleep or between getting ready and heading out. 

For this purpose, the lockers, washing area, shower and toilet space, which had all been located in separate spaces heretofore, are connected together into a single sequence, and a lounge function is incorporated into this connected space to create a spacious "sanitary lounge."

At the same time, the studio reconfigured the 4 stages of the capsule hotel stay into 4 scenes comprised of the "reception," "prologue corridor," "sanitary lounge" and "sleeping pod" spaces. 

By selecting the most suitable colors, materials and lighting for each of these functions, we were able to realize a functional hotel that is also rich in the joys of the hotel stay – from the "welcoming" to the "excitement," "relaxation" and "ultimate sleep experience."

Plan layout

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Project facts

Category: Shared Space

Architects: Naruse Inokuma Architects

Lead Architects: Yuri Naruse, Jun Inokuma, Yohei Yamagata

Direction: nine hours Inc.

Creative direction・Product design: Fumie Shibata (Design Studio S)

Sign & Graphic design: Masaaki Hiromura (Hiromura Design Office)

Lighting design: Yoshiki Ichikawa, Ko Nakahara (ModuleX Inc.)

Clients: B-Lot Company Limited

Date: April, 2019

Location: Osaka

All images © Nacása & Partners

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