SODA Converts London Hostel into 566-Pod Otherwander Soho Hotel
SODA, a studio located in London, has transformed a previous backpacker hostel into Otherwander Soho, a capsule hotel situated on Dean Street, close to Oxford Street. This initiative includes 566 sleeping pods, referred to as "nests," along with communal social areas. According to SODA director Ryan Holland, the goal was to offer affordable, high-density lodging for Gen Z and younger travelers, which has now attracted a broader audience. The design maintains the integrity of heritage buildings while incorporating a rear extension for accessible accommodations. The lobby features a sleek white design with a digital screen and QR-code check-in, while the ground-floor social space, known as the Huddle, boasts neon bar seating. Each pod is soundproof and operates via QR code. Otherwander Soho follows SODA's recent conversion of an Art Deco workspace.
Key facts
- SODA converted a former backpacker hostel into Otherwander Soho, a capsule hotel with 566 sleeping pods.
- The hotel is located across two early 20th-century buildings on Dean Street, close to Oxford Street in central London.
- SODA director Ryan Holland stated the aim was affordable, high-density accommodation without compromising guest experience.
- The original target demographic was Gen Z and younger independent travelers, but the hotel now appeals to a broader age range.
- A rear extension replaces a "low-quality post-war addition" and houses fully accessible accommodation and facilities.
- The design includes a glossy lobby called the Gallery with automated QR-code check-in and e-gates, minimizing staff numbers.
- Pods are acoustically isolated, individually ventilated and illuminated, and accessed via QR code.
- Capsule hotels are often associated with Japan, where the first example opened in Osaka in 1979.
Entities
Artists
- Ryan Holland
Institutions
- SODA
- Dezeen
- Schemata Architects
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Soho
- Oxford Street
- Dean Street
- Osaka
- Japan
- Shibuya
Sources
- Dezeen —