Further research: other small, occupied spaces.

There are many other different examples of small-spaces-for-living or small spaces that can be occupied. Do some background research into the design and use of Japanese capsule hotels. Can you find several different examples? How are they used? What considerations have determined the design of these small spaces?

Document your research in your learning log.

I started my research by googling the phrase ‘capsule hotel’. One of the first results was a hotel comparison site, so I thought it would be a great starting point to see how the offer varies.

I first looked at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. It is only possible to book either male or female single bedrooms. They are competitively priced for a single traveller at £36 per night. I gather there must be male and female sleeping sections. It seems the capsules/ bedrooms have no fixed / locking doors but just curtains hanging, in a similar fashion to store changing rooms. There are shared bathrooms (I assume also divided into male/ female) that are similar in set up to what you may see at a modern gym. The bedrooms are very small, with a single bed each and suitcase space under each bed. The location of the hotel is in close proximity to multiple points of interest. I am sure it offers value for money; I am not quite sure I could stay there (mainly due to lack of locking doors and a lack of privacy). I suppose this place is just half a step up from traditional hostel with a more luxurious bathroom. It may however work for solo travellers, giving them opportunity to meet new people as all spaces, even the bedrooms seem quite communal. The compact design allows to fit more bedrooms in a smaller space which I am sure comes at a premium in Central Tokyo.

Nine hours Otemachi Imperial Palace in Tokyo offers single capsule rooms in either female or male sections. Soundproofing or sleep analysis upgrades are available. A night there can cost as little as £26. The design of this place seems less cosy than Resol Poshtels. Nine Hours Otemachi however offers lockable capsule bedrooms that are stacked on top of one another. They almost look like rows of cupboard in pristine, white almost lab feel setup. The bedrooms are very small, just big enough to ft a lying person in. Definitely no room to stand and stretch, this would have to be done ‘outside’. As seen in Fig. 5 the design is very futuristic.

I believe the main consideration in the design of these spaces was to maximise the number of individual sleeping quarter in the minimum space while providing all necessary facilities that you’d expect in a ‘hotel’. There must have been a need in the market for affordable accommodation and this must be the result of the compromise. Compromise on space and privacy but in return it is affordable.

List of illustrations:

Fig. 1 Booking.com (2022) Capsule Bedroom at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. [Photograph] At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/239289989.jpg?k=dbd1b0ce73a52740332540ee033a25421a20b8a9b571d2f22f24ec1582882b88&o=&hp=1 (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 2 Booking.com (2022) Capsule Bedroom with an occupant at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. [Photograph] At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/242931851.jpg?k=38b0551456b4d0660aca652431e494628f8d4a6aa5b3650041e7754f3881be6d&o=&hp=1 (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 3 Booking.com (2022) Row of Capsule Bedrooms at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. [Photograph] At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/242931850.jpg?k=ab185a3de6697b68223b7082f5e6f00de4e0859e938f6ac3916abc57c8b74c63&o=&hp=1 (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 4 Booking.com (2022) Shared bathroom facilities at Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. [Photograph] At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/239289840.jpg?k=ebf65e9c5fa2b17ebf5ae2b6b0997a5560f7e961e74fb9624b7e5345730a657d&o=&hp=1 (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 5 Booking.com (2022) Nine Hours Otemachi Imperial Palace bedrooms. [Photograph] At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/136691939.jpg?k=c72a7d1dd53bb688bb2941cb4dba762f5ec65e66ef0c4318277f3eedeaa589b2&o=&hp=1 (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 6 Booking.com (2022) Nine Hours Otemachi Imperial Palace bedroom. [Photograph]   At: https://cf.bstatic.com/xdata/images/hotel/max1024x768/402247755.jpg?k=8b5dcd0920355144e98f1413c0320555b3ed739c2f15d661ae4ddae381c81894&o=&hp=1  (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig.7 Alam, M (n.d.)Nine hours Otemachi bedrooms. [Photograph] At:  https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPf8QXggt-202QJkeA6HxL4QfVaQl32_Ff2BImI=w253-h189-k-no (Accessed 30/12/2022)

Fig. 8 Soliman, M (n.d) Nine Hours Otemachi Imperial Palace bathroom facilities. [Photograph] At: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOMAq_lox8dZWinqXNeV3nMgh62_yJSzKqsNNAB=w253-h337-k-no (Accessed 30/12/2022)

References:

nine hours Otemachi-Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan (no date) Booking.com. Available at: nine hours Otemachi-Imperial Palace, Tokyo – Updated 2022 Prices (booking.com) (Accessed: 30 December 2022).

Booking.com (2022) Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa. [Accommodation listing] At: Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa, Tokyo – Updated 2022 Prices (booking.com)