Less Is More: Yotel'sTiny Hotel Rooms
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07. 6.07
Yotel is a hotel built with rooms described as a cross between Japanese capsule hotels and first-class airline cabins, but I think they are more boat-like. The first, at London's Gatwick Airport, is developed by UK sushi king Simon Woodroffe and designed by industrial designers Priestman Goode. Trend-watching Springwise calls it "no frills chic."
According to the press release, "YO! Founder Simon Woodroffe conceived the innovative YOTEL cabins to provide a flexible and convenient ‘first class’ hotel experience at affordable prices. The next generation cabins come fully equipped with en-suite bathrooms, free Wifi and wired internet access and ‘techno wall’ entertainment systems."
We think it shows that with good design one can squeeze a lot of living into a very small space.
More from press release:
“Designed to offer a solution to boring and expensive hotels around the globe”, says CEO Gerard Greene, the cabins come with all the facilities you would expect from a comfortable hotel room to enable work, relaxation, sleep, refreshment and entertainment. Designers built upon the technology and advanced use of space seen in business class airline cabins and luxury yachts to realise the three tier YOTEL cabin system.
Features within the cabins include:
• Techno wall with clothes storage, pull down working desk with charging points, network cable socket and free Wifi and wired internet access
• Mood lighting and luxury bedding to induce relaxation
• Bathroom with luxury fittings including shower, bespoke revitalising body wash, hairdryer, and soft towels with a heated mirror
• Flat screen TV system with over 60 free TV stations including Sky Sports plus on demand blockbuster and classic movies. 80 radio channels plus a jukebox with over 5,000 music tracks and a headphone jack
• Snacks, club meals and refreshments ordered from the TV system and then delivered to your cabin or the ability to visit ‘The Galley’ where the cabin crew are available 24 hours a day
In addition - the Premium cabins include:
• A double bed that deploys to a couch by the touch of button (think first class private cabins on an aircraft)
• Input for your own MP3/CD player to play your own music choice through the TV speakers.
::Yotel via ::Dezeen and ::Springwise
I think it's a great idea and as you say shows what you can do with little space - but how green is it? Uses less energy to light and heat presumably?
I absolutely love the interior and if we really cold live like that i'd be amazed... though i tihnk people will still like the comfort of having a bit more space.
awesome idea... the future of all homes/hotels...
Its a very cool product, look forward to reading reviews by guests etc in the future.
P.s Nice blog by the way.
Be nice if they sold (1) as a pocket house - as a portable 'drag along' RV or as a mount it anywhere Instant Dwelling
Include little kitchen (mini refrigerator, toaster oven, microwave)
and an above/below washer / dryer and closet including under the bed storage drawers.
Add a 40" Samsung 1080p LCD + Apple MacBook Pro, and
you have the tiniest iLife Pod on the planet!
Snazzy, nice usage of ambient lighting.
Looks very nice
Claustrophobia, anybody?? :D
Heated mirrors are not green.
Don't think the mirrors are heated (as far as I know)
I was the principal systems architect/tech lead for yotel's IT.
In terms of the juice consumed to drive all of the IT kit for this site I calculated we are circa less than half of a traditional type install.
Fabulous idea, very impressive rooms, fantastic use of space and very convenient and cheap!
I look forward to staying at Yotel in the very near future.