9h Nine Hours Namba Station

This project represents a reinvention of the capsule hotel.

The capsule hotel typology originated in Japan in 1979, designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. While many were built during the period of rapid economic growth, they became known for being cramped, unclean, and unwelcoming to women, despite their affordability. In 2009, the “nine hours” brand was launched to overturn that image, offering a refined design and an ultimate stay experience. 9h nine hours Namba Station marks the brand’s eleventh location, further enhancing the comfort of the capsule hotel stay.

A key innovation lies in transforming the water-related facilities into inhabitable space. By integrating what were previously separate areas—lockers, showers, toilets, and vanities—into a continuous zone and adding lounge functions, the design creates a spacious “Sanitary Lounge.” This configuration smooths the transition between short intervals—such as the time between showering and sleep, or between preparing and going out—reducing stress and expanding comfort.

Another departure from convention was to reconceive the overall guest journey as a sequence of four distinct scenes: [Reception], [Prologue Corridor], [Sanitary Lounge], and [Sleeping Pods]. Each is designed with tailored colors and materials suited to its purpose, producing a functional yet highly atmospheric environment. Through this layered composition—welcoming, expectation, relaxation, and quality sleep—the hotel evolves into an even more authentic expression of the nine hours brand.