Sleep Box - Mini Hotels

In Tokyo, the  Capsule Inn exemplifies the bare-essentials hotel rooms for brief use, and similar concepts are popping up at airports, train stations and down towns around the world, replacing and mimicking the “day rooms” already existing at many airports.
Unlike Tokyo’s bed-only cabins where customers climb into a human equivalent of a honeycomb for a night’s rest, Yotel pods at Gatwick and Heathrow airports in London and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam come in larger and more comfortable formats. These self-contained mini hotel rooms are equipped with a bed, table, HD TV and Wi-Fi.

The fourth Yotel is set to arrive in New York in 2011 with a location opening on 42nd and 10th street boasting 669 luxury rooms and the largest outside terrace in any hotel in New York
Also in Amsterdam, Citizen M has a hotel with 230 mini rooms at Schiphol Airport and a 215-room hotel in Amsterdam City. Citizen M plans to open similar hotels across Europe.

Qbic Hotels has opened two “cheap chic” hotels with mini rooms in the Netherlands: Qbic World Trade Centre Amsterdam and Qbic Maastricht, plus one in Antwerp, Belgium.

Taking the next step in rest and space efficiency, Russia’s Arch Group designed the SleepBox.
 Along with an airport version of the rest pod, equipped with the usual, high-tech necessities offered by other companies, Arch Group has also designed an easy-to-relocate version fit for hostels. A small, mobile compartment, 2m (l) x 1.4m (w) x 2.3m (h), SleepBox is made of wood and MDF. SleepBox is meant to “allow very efficient use of available space and, if necessary, a quick change of layout”, making it perfect for hostels where demand and space available often come in conflict with each other. The hostel-specific SleepBox features bunk beds, flip-out tables and sockets for computers or phone chargers and not much else.



All pics & info courtesy of www.thecoolhunter.net & www.likecool.com

You are who you decide to be ... Adapt & Overcome.

Paper in Arntzen.land

Paper is an inexpensive resource that can be transformed into amazing concepts once touched by a skilled paper artist. Dutch artist Paula Arntzen is one of these people who love paper and experiments with it. Experiments that turn into objects of desire in the world of contemporary design.

After constant study and observation she managed to obtain a deep knowledge and understanding of the paper and its special characteristics; a knowledge that gives the designer the chance to demonstrate her talent by using a simple material like paper which can be transformed gracefully in any shape or form.

Arntzen’s Paper Process was presented during the new years party from platform Tape and at the Arnhem Mode Biënnale 2009. The project refers to hand made paper lanterns that can be used as a decorative touch thanks to their high quality materials and cutting edge design.


Her inspiration comes from the daily life observation; information is collected and elaborated before it’s transformed to the next successful concept. This is a procedure through which the designer decides not only the form and shape but also the elements that will determine and lead to a multi-function object creation.

A creation that will serve as both decorative and functional item that can be used in a space or event. Special attention is given to every detail and good quality in order to create high design items from such a simple material. Arntzen also designs modern furniture and home products focusing on concepts with colour and light in open spaces.

Paula Arntzen graduated in Artez Academy where she was selected as one of the best students. She has also been selected for the exhibition “Talent 2009”, an exhibition where the 125 best graduates of Europe present their work. Her graduation project for Arnhem Mode Biënnale was her first assignment and also a success. Her current work is presented in Intermezzo gallery in Dordrecht (Holland) from 10 December until 24 January 2010.

sources:Paula Arntzen

All pics & info courtesy of www.yatzer.com

you are who you decide to be...Adapt & Overcome.