Time - 9hrs Capsule Hotel, Kyoto.

9hrs Capsule Hotel - Kyoto, Japan

TIME and its impact on FUNCTION:

The 9hrs hotel takes looks at the experience as being a system:

to clean (1 HR) + to sleep (7HRS) + to rest (1HR) = Experience (9 HRS)

Each step in the system is considered a separate architectural element and underpins the functionality and journey through the building as you go from one space to the next. It's a way of achieving the necessities to resting for a travelling individual. In this respect, it works quite well, it's a formulated step by step process to get you to your destination as soon as possible. However, the white canvas in which this interior demonstrates (labeled with signage for guiding and directing the user) gives a cold and clinical feel to the space.

This building could only be appropriate for the lone traveller, a business person or a backpacker. The system doesn't allow for social connection, and therefor they are minimising their target market.

Flexibility and adaptation is always the connecting element.

The Hotel Experience.

A Modular flat-pack Ikea Hotel is the building typology for this project. To develop a design and functionality of this future 2030 entity, I must first analyse the current architectural perceptions of successful hotel design - the uses and design responsibilities. 

THE EXPERIENCE

Current notions of a successful hotel room are generally associated with high-end, niche and luxury accommodation. Hotel room designs are expected to be a space better than home – an escape from reality, and a place to relax. It must create an experience. Long and short term stay also come into the equation - the longer the stay the more space and needs must be met. The Shorter the stay, the basic necessities must be met - In this respect there are 2 room types that must be accomodated. A sense of home is created through the accessories and comfortability of furnishings - this is a design quality expected by users. A home away from home. 

Sleep . clean . eat. work . REST. 

Expectations:  air-conditioning, double bed-room,  lounge,  Study/ desk, kitchenette, Dining, Bathroom/Ensuite, Superb design.

ROOM SIZE

Room size is often determined by time. The longer the stay, the more activities will be undertaken within the space. The shorter the stay, less activities will be undertaken and only the basic necessities are needed - sleep, clean and relax (eating will generally be an external activity). 

THE FUTURE?

Simplistic Design - Saving space in an urban context (less material and space used the more economically viable). Flexibility, Efficiency, Order and Functionality. Meeting human needs in a busy populated city. The sense of escape and comfortability is still of importance, however TIME is the dominating element to the functional elements of the space. 

NECESSITIES: clean. sleep. rest. 

IKEA flat-pack Apartment??

I cam across an interesting article in which mentions IKEAs plans to move into prefab housing, they have teamed up with architect firm ideabox to create eco-friendly and affordable housing - a design known as Aktiv.  The only question is, where do they go now? It is mentioned there is a village in the UK made up of prefab IKEA homes, using a different design called Boklok. A suburban setting, is put in mind. But in a future context, where population growth is an issue, where open land is becoming more scarce - can these "affordable" prefab homes afford to be placed on land? Or will they have to be vertically stacked with a frame to support? And how will technology advancements impact the way the interior functions.

ARTICLE BELOW >>

Buying your house from Ikea? Swedish furniture maker launches $86,000 flat-pack DIY home

By LEON WATSON
UPDATED: 21:53 GMT, 1 March 2012

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It will probably take a little longer than a Sunday afternoon to knock up.

But these flat-packed homes from Ikea could be just the answer if a place of your own is proving too costly.

The Swedish furniture company, famous for its cheap but quirky products and its army of fans, has launched its first line of prefabricated houses in the U.S., named the Aktiv.

Priced around $86,500, this is the first in a new line of houses designed by Ideabox and appointed by Ikea

Ikea collaborated with Oregon architectural firm Ideabox to design the homes which will cost around $86,500 each.

The Swedish-themed dwelling is a one-bedroom home centered around space-saving furniture and products.

The hip and modern house was outfitted taking into consideration the demands from Pacific-Northwest homeowners, and is designed to be eco-friendly

It is equipped with facilities such as a dual-flush toilet and energy-star electronics.

Swedish inspired: Designers say the flat-pack home promotes wide open living with no wasted space

The kitchen: Ikea says it offers a lot of flexibility in kitchen cabinets, design and layout

HOW BIG IS AN IKEA PREFAB HOME?

The design for Ikea's new Aktiv home includes a bedroom, and en suite bathroom, and an open living room, kitchen and dining room area.

It measures 53ft by 14ft and comes with two  large walk-in storage cupboards.

A combination of fiber-cement siding, corrugated metal, and a standing-seam metal roof make up the exterior of this all-in-one home.

According to Jim Russell, president of Ideabox, the complete home 'brings all the fun and design of Ideabox houses together with all the function, design, and personality of Ikea'.

The home will be furnished with a complete Ikea package that includes Tundra maple flooring, Pax wardrobes, and Abstrakt cabinets.

The blueprint: Plans show the house is 53ft by 14ft and has a bath bedroom, living room and kitchen/dining room

Swedish firm Ikea has got an army of fans both in the U.S. and in Europe because of its cheap, modern designs

Ideabox and Ikea displayed the model house this week at the Portland Home & Garden Show at the Portland Expo Center in Oregon.

The Aktiv, Swedish for active, is being marketed as 'your own personal Euro designer flat… only where you want it!'

Prefab homes have already taken off in Europe. In the UK, Ikea opened a village made up of cheap prefab houses near Gateshead, in the north east, using a different design called BoKlok.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108775/Ikea-launches-80-000-flat-pack-DIY-house.html#ixzz29ucRsD8r
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Week 7 - Tutorial - Architectural Fiction

Set your Project Direction.

The future of Ikea. Experimenting with the nesting technique as a means of attracting young travellers and urbanites looking for alternative ways to experience and live in a city - a (short or long term) way of interacting within Brisbane's new corporately branded city. Representing their Public image.

Type of Architecture.
Apartments, Hotel and Mixed-use on lower levels (connection to Queen street shopping district). Urban In-fill strategies. Harmonise with society.

Scale.
Houses within Houses concept. Modular apartments. Public and private. Open and closed. Individual Control and experience.

Target Users.
Short term Travellers and City dwellers. Public spaces on lower floors (private and public access).

Possible Scenarios.
Future of IKEA. Opportunities for Testing of alternative business models and designs in a low-risk environment - Brisbane. 

• IKEA moves into Hotel/Apartment design.
• Modular 'flat pack' design implemented in IKEA architecture. 
• Growth of the online shopping platform.
• User can purchase modular apartments online.
• User can modify individual (modular features) apartment.
• Creation of individual identity and experience.
• Movable pods - take with you when you move? An architectural framework to support? (consider further in future 2030+)

Exemplar to consider:: Polikatoikea by designers Filipe Magalhaes and Ana Luisa Soars

WEEK 7 TUTOR FEEDBACK

Considerations

How does culture change? What is the change in culture, identity and technology? And how do these trends impact the future of architecture? Graph the trends in architecture and virtuality. How will this impact the way that IKEA responds to designing. 

Questions
HOW DO WE MEASURE DURATION IN ARCHITECTURE?? People travel and work, move countries, move houses --- how does architecture respond to the measure of duration? At the moment we design for long term dwelling, how will this change in future. Especially in the city context. 

Thought
Design with the detail in mind. Be specific to the user level and interaction - the feel and experience of architecture. Think about the living space - is it possible to live from one hotel to another?

Suggestions
MOVIE: 2046 - lets you question the meaning of place.
BOOK:  Pattern Recognition by William Gibson - surveying trends. 

Week 7 - A reading/blog I came across

An interesting reading "The invisible architect: a modular approach for future cities"looks into the importance of the invisible architect who allows the user to individually experience architecture...

- The true architect does not judge or shape the lives of others.

- The true architect does not produce spatially finite structures.

- Rather, the true architect designs the tools required to produce spatially infinite structures of beauty and functionality, thereby enabling others to judge and shape their own lives.

- The true architect is invisible.

Week 7 - Lecture and Project Criteria

Script, Stage, and Scenes. Again, Yasu, enforced the notion of putting the users needs first. We were asked us to think about our own daily lives, and from a personal view determine how and why it would change in our future scenario. The personal experience and journey is critical to this assessment. 

KEY elements to think about in the next couple of weeks.

• Construct events in its form.
• Needs and desires of future citizens
• Meaningful Access within architectural entity to other spaces
• Functional studies
• Constructability -  a sustainable entity?
• Presence and Identity - what does it provide. what is it known for?
• How do users experience the architecture?
• How do users identify with the architecture?
• Private/ Personal scale consideration. 

Week 6 - IKEA Hotels soon to be modular???

BRISBANE 2012??

BRISBANE 2030??

One of the "Big 5" corporations IKEA is building a new multi-purpose hotel/apartment building. How will this building be different to others in the past? Build it yourself apartments? Online apartment orders? What creativity will they bring to the 'New Brisbane'??

We will soon find out...