eeGee Stay: Reviving the Local Economy

A Capsule Hotel Design by Hajime Tsuruta

After World War II, shopping arcades were the main retail hubs in Japan. However, recent redevelopment and modernization in Japanese cities have drawn consumers away from these arcades, causing many old-fashioned shops to suffer. To address this issue and revive the local economy, renowned designer Hajime Tsuruta has created the eeGee Stay, a unique capsule hotel concept.

The eeGee Stay is a stripped-down capsule hotel that intentionally lacks its own restaurant, cafe, or laundromat. The aim is to push hotel customers back into the shopping arcade, where they can support local businesses and contribute to the economic growth of the area. This design fosters a symbiotic relationship between the capsule hotel and its surrounding shops, creating a win-win situation for both.

What sets the eeGee Stay apart is its emphasis on infusing natural elements into urban areas. Departing from the conventional boxy design of most capsule hotels, Tsuruta has envisioned the eeGee Stay as a hidden forest within the shopping arcade. The hotel features an abundance of wood and greenery, providing customers with a unique experience of sleeping in private treehouses rather than traditional plastic boxes.

The eeGee Stay not only addresses the economic decline of local shopping arcades but also embraces sustainable and socially responsible design principles. Instead of constructing a new building, the hotel was cleverly built within an existing vacant space, optimizing resources and ensuring that the exterior design seamlessly blends with the surrounding businesses. This approach also makes the project more cost-effective, allowing the hotel to offer lower prices and attract a wider range of customers, particularly the money-conscious youth demographic.

The design of the eeGee Stay encourages visitors to explore the shopping arcade and patronize local shops. By minimizing the hotel's amenities and focusing on the essentials, guests are motivated to venture out and experience the charm of the surrounding area. This revitalizes the local economy, preserves the shopping arcade, and creates a vibrant and sustainable community.

The construction of the eeGee Stay involved the assembly of OSB boards to create the wooden sleeping cabins. A total of 306 cabins were constructed, with 152 cabins for women and 154 cabins for men. The design team meticulously planned the layout, ensuring that the cabins were positioned in an alternating pattern along the walls of the hotel.

Since its opening in May 2019 in Saitama, Japan, the eeGee Stay has garnered attention for its innovative approach to hospitality design. It has successfully revived the local economy and provided a unique and nature-inspired experience for guests.

The eeGee Stay has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2020. This recognition highlights the hotel's outstanding creativity, resourcefulness, and contribution to improving the quality of life in the community.