European Premier: Opening of the First Capsule Hostel in Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp Student Hostel inspired by Japanese Capsule Hotels launched by Today for Tomorrow
Antwerp - Belgium: The ASH, short for Antwerp Student Hostel, opens this week and has found its inspiration in the Japanese capsule hotels. Capsule hotels, a model which stacks multiple sleeping units into a single grid format, has a firm footing in cities across Japan and, in recent years, has seen a surge in popularity across the globe. Some airports - including London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol - offer sleep ‘pods’ complete with workspace, televisions and enough space to stand. This is a gross enhancement on the space afforded to those using the more traditional capsule hotel, which often means simple sleeping pods stacked in rows. Now this trending hotel concept has come to Antwerp in Belgium: www.antwerpstudenthostel.com.
Capsules as rooms
This tried and tested model has been taken as the inspiration for a new hostel in Antwerp called ASH (Antwerp Student Hostel). The capsule hostel offers a luxurious private space for each traveller with a high-end finish in a shared room. The private space of the capsule comes with a locker and shared showers. Each capsule has been made sound-proof and has private ventilation in order to secure your night’s rest. The concept of sharing a room with strangers creates an easy to connect atmosphere and enhances friendships worldwide during travelling. Capsule hotels beds offer slightly more luxury for the solo traveller or group. The ASH offers a combination of both: the traditional bunk beds and capsule beds are offered to travellers. Besides the innovating capsule concept, the ASH offers extra services such as a lobby, communal kitchen, a garden and a laundromat. Breakfast and dinner are available on demand.
Chosen by the Antwerp Management School (AMS)
Beds can be found in the traditional hostel bunk bed format or the capsule hotel bed style, with shared shower facilities and a communal kitchen. Across the development there are 63 rooms and 48 hostel beds. The student rooms come in different sizes with private en-suite bathrooms. Free high speed wifi is a standard service at the hostel. The ASH is both for long and short stays in the city centre of Antwerp. It doesn’t matter if the traveller passes by for a few days, six months, a whole year or only during summer school. Everybody is invited: (inter)national students, PhD students, researchers, professors, family and friends travelling. Whether you are alone or travel with a group, the hostel offers a comfortable and luxurious place to stay. Furniture and kitchen packages are available upon request. Linen service and the cleaning service are just a few of the extra services the hostel offers. The flexibility and service the ASH offers are amongst the main reasons why The Antwerp Management School decided to become partner of the ASH and put their 3 Continents-programme students in the Fall Semester. Besides the Antwerp Management School, the Erasmus Student Network and the University of Antwerp have partnered up with the ASH for their accommodation program.
Location
The Ash is strategically located in the heart of the centre, close to the central station and public transport. Close to the University of Antwerp it offers also the possibility to enjoy the Antwerp night life. In order to guarantee the security of the guests, the entrance has been electronically secured and there is 24 hours video surveillance. In case you would come with a car, there are many public parkings in the neighbourhood.
Aim
The Antwerp Student Hostel offers much more than a private campus; the hostel is a meeting point for different nationalities to meet with one another. The large shared kitchen and recreation areas of over 100 m2 make it easy to connect in a safe environment where fun, work, and study can be combined! The Antwerp Student Hostel offers large libraries/study areas for students to study in silence and all tranquillity. The general appeal of these alternative hotel units is the reduced cost, with prices often much below that of the standard hotel room. Shared facilities are usually on hand and the pods booked for a set period of time. The ASH offers high-end quality for a democratic rate. The aim is to lower the barrel to travel and to make feel people at home away from home.
Special Olympics
During its soft launch, the ASH was selected as the home for the volunteers of Belgium’s major sports event of 2014, the European Special Olympics. The event took place from the 9- 20 September.
Behind the ASH
The property has been developed by Belgian firm Today for Tomorrow with the Japanese form of the capsule hotel as a guiding influence. This Belgian real estate developer is specialized in innovative student accommodation with cutting edge architecture. The building itself has been constructed with all latest materials and technologies. Beds can be booked per night or for long duration stays. Rates start at 24€/night.
For more information please visit: www.antwerpstudenthostel.com