• Shifting the focus from bed to living and work space
• Revolutionary design, customisable interior, smart use of space
• In response to the need for more flexible, international living
and working
• The first Zoku will open in Amsterdam in autumn 2015
• International rollout to follow
Facilitating global living
and working for the travelling professional, Zoku, which is Japanese for family, tribe, or clan, will disrupt and
create a new category in the hotel industry - a home-office hybrid, also
suitable for long stays, with the services of a hotel and the social buzz of a
thriving neighbourhood. Designed in collaboration with Concrete, the award-winning
interior design and architecture agency, Zoku will be a relaxed place to live,
work and socialise with like-minded people while getting wired into the city.
Hybrid-living meets
compact-living: living large in a small space
As space is becoming scarcer in urban areas, the way we use it
sustainably to meet long-term accommodation requirements is more and more
relevant. Smart solutions that create the opportunity to use less square metres
and facilitate 24/7, multifunctional use are needed. The Zoku Loft combines
hybrid-living (living and working) with compact-living, by creating a spacious
experience in a minimum area of just 25 m2.
The end of the hotel room
as we know it
Offering both style and
space consciousness, the Zoku Loft has customisable interiors that shift the
focus from the bed to the living space. The central feature of the room will be
a four-person table that can be used to work, dine and entertain, or just hang
out.
The Zoku Loft also
features a fully-equipped kitchen, cleverly designed extensive storage space,
an alcove desk with office supplies, and an elevated, loft-style sleeping
space, which can be accessed by a retractable staircase, and screened off to
make the loft cosy, business-like or something in between. The loft will feature
furnishings from Danish design brand Muuto. Zoku guests can add a finishing
touch to their loft by choosing their own art, making the space truly personal.
Serving the new generation
of business travellers, with focus on well-being
The concept behind Zoku is the result of extensive
crowdsourcing and research efforts by Zoku and futures consultancy The Future
Laboratory.
"The merging of
business and leisure – a trend we have identified as bleisure – represents one
of the fastest growing and dynamic business opportunities in recent years.
Today's business travellers are re-writing the rules. Their outlook on work and
play demands new services and a new approach to the hospitality sectors. The
business hub will be the opportunity of the next decade in terms of hospitality
value creation," says Chris Sanderson,
Co-founder of The Future Laboratory London.
"The advance of
technology has changed personal and professional lifestyles. Boundaries between
work and leisure are fading, and blurring borders have made people more mobile
than ever," says Hans Meyer, Co-founder and managing director of Zoku.
"At Zoku we realise
that your well-being is vital to get the most out of your travel experience.
It's easy for global nomads, whose work forms an essential part of their lives,
to feel ungrounded and disconnected from what inspires them. Zoku is going to
change that. The Zoku Lofts offer
an efficient work space without losing the comfortable, flexible vibe of home,
while the Zoku community provides a social structure."
A thriving neighbourhood
for global nomads
Encouraging social
connections, Zoku will offer diverse social areas to facilitate effortless
interaction between Zoku's residents, the local community and Zoku Community
Managers. 24/7, open-plan communal living and co-working spaces will allow for
conversations and small meetings, and a residential living kitchen will present
the possibility to share a meal together or host small dinner parties. Zoku
Community Managers will roam the public spaces, helping with personal requests
and facilitating professional and social connections through their broad
networks within Zoku and the city.
Zoku will also develop a
lively social programme with focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, as well
as an app, to build a strong in-house community and facilitate business
connections and a local social life.
Zoku worldwide
"We are aiming for a fast international rollout of
Zokus in the world's most creative cities," says Marc Jongerius,
Co-founder and managing director of Zoku. "All this with the aim of
creating an international community network of Zokus."
The longer you stay, the
more you get out of it. Zoku Lofts can be rented for just one night, and are
ideal for those seeking a temporary living and working space from 5 nights up
to several months, making it financially and culturally beneficial for guests
to extend their stay at Zoku. The first Zoku property will open in Amsterdam's
city centre, featuring 133 Zoku Lofts, and over 500 m2 of social space for its
guests.
Zoku Amsterdam will be taking bookings from July 2015.
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