The New Hotel Design That Perfectly Combines Business and Leisure

Hotels are rethinking room design as guests’ work and play priorities merge creating the desire for a space that caters equally to both.

While major brands have met this demand by adding public co-working spaces and more connected rooms, new hospitality brands are incorporating elements of a business and leisure stay from the start. One such brand, Zoku, released details of its concept this week for the first time.

Zoku, which describes itself as “a home-office hybrid,” was designed in collaboration with interior design agency Concrete to offer a space that adapts to each guest’s needs.

Instead of a bed at the center of the room, the central element of the Zoku Loft is a four-person table that can be used for work, meals or entertaining.

Each space also includes a kitchen, storage space, and desk with office supplies. The bed is tucked away in a loft, making it more of an accessary than the central purpose of the space.

Although lofts can be rented for one night, they are designed for guests who need a temporary living and working space for several months at a time.

“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.

This isn’t the first time that Meyer is innovating on traditional hospitality concepts. He was a co-founder and former partner of the citizenM hotel concept, which has become the standard for a new class of affordable design accommodations.

The first Zoku will open in Amsterdam this fall and the company has plans to open new properties in cities worldwide. A video showcasing the new property can be viewed below: