Malaysia’s first ‘space age’ capsule hotel was conceptualised as a simple, economical and convenient accommodation alternative in Kuala Lumpur city. Located close to the National Heart Institute and KPJ Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, the Riccarton Capsule Hotel also offers patients and their families a comfortable and affordable temporary home.
Designed by S.H. Yeong Architect, the hotel comprises contemporary three-star-equivalent deluxe rooms as well as futuristic space pod-concept capsule rooms. The deluxe rooms come in double, family rooms or suites, and are equipped with air-conditioning and quality bedding. Rooms facing the main road have thicker glass panels for maximum noise reduction.
CAPSULE LIVING
A standard capsule is 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, with approximately eight capsules in a room. There are also slightly larger capsules that can fit a couple and a child.
Each capsule is made of fireproof material with an aerospace design and soft blue lighting. Despite its size and minimalist concept, the capsules are equipped with a set of bedding, air-conditioning ventilation with control buttons, a smart TV, WiFi, light dimmers, make-up mirror, panic button, smoke detector and other electronic amenities. Thoughtful details include hooks, ledges and charger ports. Each capsule is secured by an electronic hotel card reader on the door, while walkways are monitored by CCTVs.
The capsule room comes with a common work desk area and ironing boards, while a small luggage locker is provided for personal belongings. The common washrooms have modern fixtures and water-saving shower and sanitary systems. All materials used are Riccarton Capsule Hotel offers affordable and convenient accommodation with a difference purchased locally due to ease of purchase and follow-up services.
CHALLENGES
One of the biggest challenges for this project was to get approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Council, as this was the first and only hotel with this type of capsule concept. It took several presentations and meetings over one-and-a-half years before the project was finally approved.
While it is a fairly new concept in Malaysia, the capsule hotel has been around for a while—it was first introduced in Osaka, Japan, in the late 1970s as a place for white-collar workers to rest between each work day. Today, it is an increasingly popular accommodation option across the region, and the team behind Riccarton Capsule Hotel hopes to be a driving force behind its growth in Malaysia, especially among young generation travellers.
PROJECT DATA
Project name: Riccarton Capsule Hotel
Location: Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur
Completion date: April 2017
Site area: 3,000 square feet
Gross floor area: 18,000 square feet
Number of rooms: 20 rooms; 104 capsules
Client/Owner: Prestasi Import Sdn Bhd
Architecture firm: S.H. Yeong Architect
Interior design firm: S.H. Yeong Architect
Principal designers: Datuk Danny Yip; S. H. Yeong; Dennis Lim
Civil & Structural Engineer: Poo Choon Beng
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Go King Ching
Lighting Consultant: YESB Sdn Bhd
Green Building Consultant: Go King Ching
Interior Fit-Out Contractor: Pavillion Design Sdn Bhd
