Background & Justification
Inspiration
This hostel works to provide a semiprivate overnight experience in a methodical way. The sleeping areas consist of a bed and casework for the traveler. Keeping the interior minimalistic, allows for the user to simply want to use this space as a sleeping area. The main space offers seating areas, games, spaces to work, and eat. This space becomes the social hub for travelers.
Solo traveling is a relatively new idea. This space works to promote traveling solo in a safe way. The opportunity and unique experience of sharing these common spaces allows for people to connect. Young adults from all over the world can co-live in these spaces and interact with one another. Cross cultural communication allows people to grow and become more diverse in their thinking. These spaces support the users to interact with each other or find refuge in the space.
02.
Design Intent
This hostel works to provide a semiprivate overnight experience in a methodical way. The sleeping areas consist of a bed and casework for the traveler. Keeping the interior minimalistic allows for the user to simply want to use this space as a sleeping area. The main space offers seating areas, games, spaces to work, and eat. This space becomes the social hub for travelers.
Solo traveling is a relatively new idea. This space works to promote traveling solo in a safe way. The opportunity and unique experience of sharing this common spaces allow for people to connect. Young adults from all over the world can co-live in these spaces and interact with one another. Cross cultural communication allows people to grow and become more diverse in their thinking. These spaces support the users to interact with each other or find refuge in the space.
03. Theories & Drivers
Photo from Pinterest
Prospect Vs. Refuge
Prospect Vs. Refuge Theory was developed in 1975 by Jay Appleton. This theory works to understand the way we feel in certain spaces. This theory argues that we feel the most comfortable in spaces when we have both places of refuge and places where we can view things. This theory works to discover the spaces where we feel the most safe and analyze why they are more desirable. This idea of Prospect Vs. Refuge Theory is important to my work because I want to include a level of privacy that promotes the ability to refuge but also work to provide areas for discovery and observation.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who was interested in a motivational theory that explains the levels and thresholds of human needs on an upward trajectory. The first level is physiological needs being breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing. The next level is safety and security. This includes employment, property, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. The next level is love and belonging; this includes friendship, family, intimacy, and a sense of connection. The fourth level is self esteem which is how we perceive ourselves, our confidence, and respect of others. The fifth being self actualization which is acceptance, creativity, morality. These levels are essential to humans to grow and develop. This relates to my project because I want to make sure all of the basic needs are supported in this space so people can begin to trajectory into the final stages growing in confidence and acceptance.
Color Therapy Site Analysis
This idea was discovered in 1927 by Ghadiali and works to explain why different colors have therapeutic benefits. He explains that there is a unique energy that stimulates an energy in our body which causes a natural biochemical reaction. He thinks if we know what colors cause a reaction in our body we can use the colors to self heal ourselves. The different colors work to restore our normal balance in our bodies. Color therapy is important to my project because I know how stressful traveling can be and the anxiety is can cause. Being able to use moments of color in the project can help travelers with whatever needs they need to support their bodies.
04.
41 Keeley St, London WC2B 6TE, UK
This site is located in the Covent Garden area of London. The scope of my project would include the restaurant/ retail space above. This single level floor plan offers me the ability to focus on the common spaces and pods being all in one area. The constraint is that the space is connected to a larger corporate office area. I think it still works here because, while there won’t be a restaurant in the building for workers, there is still a cafe area next door and plenty of restaurants in walking distance. Another possible constraint is being able to fit many pods in this space. I think possibly using the reception area will help make that area the front of house and the back area the sleeping area, social area, and bathrooms.
There are existing columns as well which I would have to leave and integrate into the design decisions. While this space has some constraints, there are ultimatley many opportunties for this site.
Location & Transportation
Located in London, England, this site will work to provide a safe space for young adults. This area is highly dense and bustling. London is a major city and often destination place for young adults. While it can be desirable for many, it also is associated with high costs. This hostel will allow young adults to stay in a more desirable and expensive area for a low cost.
The transportation in this area is very accessible. There is the Kingsway Subway station right across the street. This allows young adults to take advantage of London’s easy to navigate, public transportation. There are a variety of small bike parking nearby as well as bikes for rental. This offers young adults another form of transportation.
Space House London
Pricing & Natural Features Entertainment & Locals
The pricing of nearby hotels also makes this a good site opportunity for a hostel. The closest hotel is the Lincoln Hotel which is around $238 a night. The hostel would be around $60 a night. The closest hostel to this site is one mile away and $33 a night. The area where this hostel would be located is much closer to city center and would allow users to be in walking distance of everything.
Another desirable aspect are the nearby fields which allow young adults to take in the scenery. Lincoln Inns Field is across the street and offers users access to nature during their stay.
There is also a nearby performing arts theatre. Young adults can enjoy the entertainment which ranges from opera to local circus acts. There is also a nearby museum which could offer entertainment to those who enjoy museums.
Finally, another major opportunity is the nearby school, London School of Economics and Political Science. This offers young adults to possibility meet locals their age. The coffee shops nearby offer opportunities for local interaction and to make prospective friends. Not only will they meet new people in the hostel, they can potentially interact with the locals which is how you learn the most about a place.
Context
Target Audience
Young adults ranging from 18-30 who are traveling.
Young adults who enjoy traveling often don’t have much money to spend on hotels in every city they travel to. Hostels are the perfect space for those who want to see major cities on a lower budget. However, young adults also crave privacy and some points as well The solution of a semi-private living space works to support young adults in privacy and also promote interactions with others.
05.
Intent
These spaces are designed for either single users or two people. The pods will consist of a double bed. The users of this space need a space to sleep, space for luggage or backpacks, and bathrooms. The pods will offer them a simplistic way of sleeping and regenerating with just the right amount of space. The small space will promote users to go outside of their pod and interact in the common space. The users will need a kitchen area including a fridge for those who want to grocery shop to save money.
What’s Included?
Semi-private sleeping situation
Levels of lighting
Proper acoustics
Variety of seating
Maximization of space
Color Therapy
Luxurious, yet affordable experience
Moments of meaningful interactions
Safety features
Photo from Pinterest
Photo from Pinterest
Design Issues
What Am I Answering?
Creating hostel spaces in a more private way
Fostering a community of young travelers
Promoting solo traveling in a safe way
Optimization of space
Adding Community culture into space
06.
Precedents
Pre-2000
This home was built in 1959 by Alvar Aalto. He designed Maison Louis Carre with care and attention to details. This space shows the importance and historical aspect of getting to “design” your own home. He was able to add customization meaning custom lighting and furniture. It also represents the earlier ideas of what a home meant and owning a home allowed you to do. The details of this home are impeccable and crucial to designers. This is an example of how I want to treat and approach the spaces I am designing. I want the space I design to feel very comforting and customizable as if the user designed it themselves. People often associate customization with luxury. While this home was very luxurious for its time, I think my project can work to incorporate aspects of customization.
07.
Samuel Ludwig
Pre-2000
This house was designed by Jose Oubrerie in the late 1980’s. This space he treats as parts to whole. He built it to act as a manifesto for the future of suburban life. It was designed with the idea of different family dynamics. The family it was designed for was a group of three. The older couple had two kids who were primarily away at college. The family dynamic allowed him to design specific spaces for the users. This allowed him to fragment the space and think of the spaces that needed to be more private. This is related to my work because I want to create a sense of privacy for the hostel users when they need it. Hostels are often a shared space but I want to think of ways to fragment the space to produce a co-living quality for the users.
2000-Present
This hostel is called CityHub in Copenhagen, Denmark. This hostel offers a semi-private stay. The pods make the user feel as if they have their own room while still being able to take advantage of the shared spaces. The shared spaces in this hostel promote a sense of community and allow for travelers to gather. The pods are just the right size for the user to be comfortable and have space to house their items but allows them to do their socializing and work outside in the main common area. This relates to my project because I want to create a hostel that supports young travelers to meet new people.
Samuel Ludwig CityHub in Copenhagen, Denmark
2000-Present Building Codes
This hotel is designed by Kelly Wearstler in downtown Los Angeles. She works to combine the past and present in these rooms tying in the local community and culture. She uses local artists and locally made materials to support the overall design. These rooms are full of texture, color, and pattern. They have multiple locations across the US that are similarly designed. This hotel reminds me of the local influence I want to implement in my project. Hotels are meant to be comfortable and highly luxurious. I want my project to have the same weight and appeal as a higher end hotel. Using the local culture of my space, I can begin to pull in art and manufactures to support my work.
The top building codes for this space would be residential codes that are compliant with London's codes.The most important are fire codes. This involves looking at possible risks of a fire starting and then evaluating the risk to the people staying there.Proper fire protection systems are necessary for alerting users of the space. Escape routes are also an important part of the building layout. The users being able to leave the space fast is going to play an important role in my project. The hostel occupancy load is also important to keep in mind when considering what these young adults may be doing which may delay their response to the alarm. Including possibly being under the influence, sleeping, or attempting to gather belongings and getting fully dressed.
Space House London Proper Hotel by Kelly Wearstler
Blocking & Bubble
Blocking
Deciding what was needed in each space allowed the rooms to take on a blocking formation. The most important spaces are the largest and the smaller boxes represent the spaces that make up the rest of the hostel. The community space will support productivity in zones and also more informal options for working. This space will need to have good acoustics to support the users quiet work that may need to be done. Another major space within the larger space is the sleeping space. This pod type of hostel will allow the users just enough space to have their belongings and a place to rest. The pod is minimalistic in nature to invite users to spend more time outside the pod. The spaces that connect all of these are the corridors.
08.
Semi-private vs. Private and the In-Between
These thresholds of the space act as cues to the visitors to seperate semiprivate vs private spaces. While the lines are more blurred and interactions in between vary, these thresholds help define the bodies experience ascending into the space.
09. Programming
Productivity
The work zone in the hostel allows users to work on the go. Young travelers often find jobs on the road or work completely remote. Offering a space for working allows for many users to collaborate as well in larger groups. This space will have a variety of furniture ranging from more productive, silent zones to more relaxed, collaborative areas. The users move in and around this space to join and collaborate on ideas.
Meals
Sharing of a meal is a common practice for people to slow down and spend time with their loved ones. A meal can symbolize trust with somebody and is also seen as a ritual. Sharing a meal is a good example of how to get to know somebody on a deeper level. The shared kitchen space will support young adults in coming together. This space will consist of a full kitchen and a variety of seating for large or small groups.
Resting
The resting space offers the body a place to decompress. The pod houses a double size bed which is perfect for one or snug for two. It includes shelving to store luggage and personal belongings. This space offers customization for the night time. The remote controlled lighting system allows users to interact with their space. The space becomes whatever environment and color the user needs. This programming diagram shows the user using this space. The path through this space is linear and direct. The pod is minimalistic in nature but support the main function of a place to sleep.
Light & Material
Green Light
This initial lighting test works to express the lighting quality of the space and the effects on the human body. The color green light increases concentration and focus. This model represents the top quality of the sleeping pod.
10.
Green Light
This test works to look at the green lighting and the effects it has on the lower pod area. The green light is one users can choose to aid concentration.
Red Light
The initial testing using red lighting shows how red light can support the body. Red light aids in the natural processes of melatonin. This aids in getting deeper sleep and becoming more tired in accordance with the natural body rhythms. This model is of the top sleeping pod.
Red Light
This test worked to understand the interior quality of the lower sleeping area. The red light helps the user settle down into sleeping mode.
Blue Light
The blue light is known to boost alertness and help memory. This supports young travelers in boosting their mood and getting the proper brain fuel they need. These are the conditions of the upper sleeping pod area.
Blue Light
This test studies the effect the blue light has on the lower space. The user can use this space to improve brain function and recharge for the following days.
Component
11. Custom
Sketches
Inital sketches of my custom component allowed me to understand all the elements important to this sleeping pod. On the upper level I want the acoustics and lighting to be a part of the conversation and work together to formulate the experience. This upper area of the pod includes shelving and storage for one’s belongings.
Sketches
This sketch showcases a similar layout with an emphasis on the lighting for task activities such as reading. This lower area is more accessible for users due to the lack of stairs. This sketch aids in the process of communicating what is important to this space.
Diagram
The pod formation supports the custom component aspect of this project.The basic form and shape of this pod is the cube. The part to whole of this project is represented through all of the little spaces within the larger unit and how they fit together like puzzle pieces. This shape shows how two individuals can be connected yet have two different backgrounds and views. This pod formation has multiple components to it that allow for a better experience.
Detailing
The pods support the human need for natural light by offering windows with a shade mechanism in the inside. This allows users to decide the amount of light that need at any given point. The artificial light on the interior allows for the color to transform the body and support the users mood. Another aspect is the way-finding. The signage on the pod will allow users to find their number pod easily and efficiently.
Elevation
This view of the component gives insight into the stacking concept. These spaces act similarly to each other yet have their own unique shape and experience.
12.
Design Development
Section
The overall layout of the hostel is a result of personal experiences. Hostels can often be noisy at night with different people inhabiting the space in different ways. To address this issue, this hostel alternates the amenity space to the residential floors.
1st Floor
The first floor of the hostel encapsulates a check-in station, hangout area, pod zone, and restrooms. The pod zone contains 12 sleeping quarters equipped with a double bed, storage, and lockable lockers around each column. This offers travelers the ability to store larger items they may carry with them but not want in the way. These custom pods offer a private experience but also foster a community with the ability to open windows and doors to invite others in.
2nd Floor
The second floor of this hostel offers many amenities for the guests. The first major amenity is a full size kitchen. The other amenity spaces include a hangout area, workspace, and spaces for decompression. This amenity floor alternates throughout the rest of the floors.
3rd Floor
The third floor of the hostel is similar to the first floor. This space allows the sleeping spaces to be quiet and confined to the sleeping floors. The third floor also has full bathrooms for the guests to shower and get ready.
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Branding
Branding is a huge part of the experience because, while this hostel has some shared amenities, the experience is overall highly luxurious and comfortable. The common images and places in London are showcased through materiality and branding iterations.
Interior pod materials
The interior of the pod is minimalistic and uses pops of pattern to connect with the overall style of the hostel.
Interior Pod
The interior pod has plenty of casework storage for the user to store their belongings. The interior comes with a remote to control the quality and color of the lighting. The size of the pod supports the user to use the pod as a sleeping space and relaxing which guides the user to wanting to use the amenity spaces more.
Connect Hangout
The community spaces are represented through fun and bold patterns. These materials are highly durable and commercial grade but also support the users in their activities.
Connect Hangout
This view of the community hangout gives perspective into how interactive this environment is. Connect Inn works to provide all the elements a user needs to socialize and connect with one another.
Connect Hangout
Connect Hangout also supports lounging and coming together to watch a movie or a local sporting event. This area of the hangout has a variety of furniture to support different sizes of groups.
Connect Cuisine
Materials
The Connect Cuisine is highly aesthetic to support the overall experience. The materials are highly durable as well as functional for the space.
Connect Cuisine
This view of the community kitchen shows the flexibility of this space. This space is a place for gathering with many friends or finding peace in solidarity. The variety of seating supports many sizes of parties to join together. A meal is a way to share thoughts and ideas. This space allows cultures to come together and share.
Connect Cuisine
Connect Cuisine is also fully equipped with a double size kitchen. This allows for two groups to be using this space at once. The amenity works to support sharing of techniques and recipes.
Connect Workspace Materials
The workspace reflects ideas of productivity and energy. The bright materials support the users in staying alert and focused. The lighting allows users to be supported in whatever task they may be completing.
Community Workspace
The community workspace is a place for users to get work done. Travelers may have flexibility in their work and need a place to work on the go.This space offers quiet spaces to be productive or to take a call. Having flexible seating allows all users to feel supported during their work.
Community Workspace
The workspace allows for users to feel integrated into the city through the large windows that line the exterior. This workspace can become a personal office for those who rely on remote work for an income.
Postcards
Physical memorabilia from a place or space help us remember them. Throughout my time traveling, I collected many postcards to remember all the places I experienced. These postcards allow users to take a memory with them or send to others to connect your experiences to them.
Place Stamp Here To: Hostel Co. connect inn Con nect Inn Place Stamp Here To: Con nect Inn
13. Physical Connection
Committee Members
14.
Sophie Gershtenson Interior Designer EOP Architects
Committee Member #1
Committee Member #2
Emily Kopka World Traveler
Committee Member #3
Yeonjung Kang Assistant Professor
Department of Tourism and Retail Management
Resources
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