schemata architects' design for the new ºC capsule hotel is stripped to bare minimum

schemata architects reveals the second venue of the capsule hotel chain ‘ºC’ situated in the center of a red-light district next to the east exit of gotanda station, tokyo. the new destination allows the guests to enjoy a hot sauna and warm pillar showers with a design stripped to a bare minimum and somewhat reminiscent of a cave.

all images by nacasa & partners inc.
courtesy of schemata architects

schemata architects’ capsule hotel is for male guests only, considering the customer base in the district. the former public bath in the basement was renovated into a sauna and shower room. the post-demolition condition of the interior was unique — it looked like a cave with projected and recessed parts and dead-ends. the architects reimagined the existing cave and observed each existing form to find the most appropriate use for each space.

a narrow and long space with a high ceiling was converted into a sauna with a stepped floor where one can enjoy different heat intensities according to the floor height. toto-manufactured warm pillar showers were installed on walls surrounding a small enclosed cave-like space where customers can enjoy strong waterjet streams.

guestrooms’ structure was kept, while the existing wallpaper was removed and newly constructed walls were left unfinished to create a contrast between the existing capsule units and the bare interior.

project info:

title: ºC (do-c) gotanda
architects：jo nagasaka / schemata architects
architecture team：ryosuke yamamoto
furniture team: ou ueno
address：1-20-15 higashi-gotanda, shinagawa-ku, tokyo
usage： capsule hotel

construction： zycc corporation, thermarivm co., ltd., okamura corporation, bpa co.,ltd., kotobuki seating co.,ltd., mizuno seitoen co.,ltd.

collaboration：hiromura design office, design studio s

floors：8
site area: 127.44㎡
building area: 108.80㎡
total floor area: 891.57㎡

structure： b1f-1f rc, 2f-7f steel
completion： april, 2018
photographer: nacasa & partners inc.