Russian architects Arch Group have completed the first of their tiny hotel rooms for napping at airports.

The Sleepbox unit at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport contains two beds and can be rented for between 30 minutes and several hours.

The pod is equipped with LED reading lamps as well as sockets for charging laptops and mobile phones.

This booth is constructed from ash-veneered MDF, although future units could instead be made from metal or glass-reinforced plastic.

The Sleepbox concept was the most popular story on Dezeen back in November 2009 and received over 100 comments - see our earlier story here.

Photography is by Arch Group/Ivanov Ilya.

Here's some more information from Arch Group:

Sleepbox

Imagine the situation where you are in a modern city, you are not a local resident, and you have not booked a hotel. It is not a comfortable situation because modern aggressive cities give you no opportunity to rest and relax. If you want to sleep while waiting for your plane or train, you face many security and hygiene problems.

We believe that urban infrastructure should be more comfortable. For this purpose we have developed Sleepbox. It provides moments of quiet sleep and rest without wasting time in search for a hotel.

Possible locations for Sleepbox include:

Railroad stations

Airports

Exhibition centers

Public and shopping centers

Accommodation facilities

In countries with a warm climate, Sleepbox can be used outdoors.

Sleepbox allows everybody in unforeseen circumstances to spend a night safely and inexpensively or simply to kill a few hours without leaving the luggage.

Sleepbox is a small mobile compartment (box) with a 2.5x1.6m base and 2.5-3m height. One of its main advantages is its ability to be installed in the airport “clean” zone, just in front of the gates. This is precisely the area where travelers have to spend hours waiting for their delayed flights or transfer.

Currently we offer one-, two-, or three-bed Sleepboxes, which can be made of MDF (wood), metal, and glass-reinforced plastic. Sleepbox allows from 30 min to several hours of paid use. The price varies depending on the number of hours in use: the more the user pays for, the less it costs per hour.

Sleepbox base features include ventilation and sockets for notebook and mobile phone chargers. Space for luggage is under the bed, and each bed has a nightstand. In addition to general lighting, Sleepbox has built-un LED reading lamps. Windows are equipped with electric-drive blinds for privacy.

Sleepbox's main function is to afford a restful sleep. However, depending on location, it can be equipped with additional features.

Available options include:

Matted film on windows with changing transparency

Mood lighting - LED lamps with changing light colors

Built-in media block (TV, touch-screen monitor)

Wi-Fi router

Alarm, intercom

Safe deposit box

Built-in payment station with magnetic keys

In mid-August 2011, the first Sleepbox was installed at the Aeroexpress terminal of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, Russia. It represents the base version made of MDF with a natural ash-tree veneer. This Sleepbox attracted such a great deal of interest from passengers and big companies that chances are first commercially operated boxes will be installed at airports and in the city by the end of this year.

Area: 4 m2

Architectural bureau: Arch group

Architects: M. Krymov, A.Goryainov

Design: 2009

Realization: 2011