• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Hotels

Inside a sleep and wellness hotel that rents out minimalist ‘cocoons’

By
JP Mangalindan
JP Mangalindan
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
JP Mangalindan
JP Mangalindan
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 25, 2020, 7:00 AM ET
With the tagline 'Your key to calm in the heart of London’s busy Piccadilly,' Zedwell has been built entirely with sleep and wellness in mind.
With the tagline 'Your key to calm in the heart of London’s busy Piccadilly,' Zedwell has been built entirely with sleep and wellness in mind.Courtesy of Criterion Hospitality

London may be an enchanting city to many: charming urban sprawl with busy streets, tall glass buildings, and thriving nightlife. But relaxing? That’s a word rarely if ever used to describe the British capital.   

Hotel group Criterion Hospitality hopes to change that perception slightly with the launch of Zedwell Piccadilly later this month: a hotel with 700 rooms, or “cocoons,” across 10 floors, starting at $142 for a cocoon for one to $384 for a larger cocoon with multiple beds that sleeps up to eight people.

Designed by Shanghai-based architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, whose architectural practice neri&hu eschews any one formulaic style in favor of what it calls a “dynamic interaction of detail, material, form, and light,” Zedwell Picadilly is a study in contrasts. The building’s exterior is aged concrete and glass, but the interior is a mix of soothing earthy tones, sustainable oak, and lush shades of green. And while the hotel hews to a clean, minimal aesthetic, the furniture favors sharper, squared-off angles.

The Zedwell was designed to serve as a cocoon, shutting out city noise.
Courtesy of Criterion Hospitality

Each cocoon offers a high degree of soundproofing to keep the noise out and employs luxe touches like solid oak, soft mood lighting, Egyptian cotton sheets, and a bathroom chock-full of Malin+Goetz toiletries nestled next to a rain shower. Likewise, air purifiers make sure there’s always gentle circulation of fresh air.

What travelers won’t find? Clutter of any kind: TVs, telephones, or even windows. By keeping harsh light, noise, and outside distractions to a minimum, Criterion Hospitality contends it has created a small anxiety-free zone that’s ideal for individuals, families, and groups of friends to rest.

“Our dream was to not just create a hotel but to encourage a new way of thinking for the modern-day traveler, whereby through the removal of unnecessary clutter and distraction, we create a cleaner, purer space where peace, balance, and calm can be achieved,” says Darija Aziz, head of interior design for Zedwell.

Rooms are designed to minimize anxiety and distractions through soundproofing and gentle circulation of filtered air.
Courtesy of Criterion Hospitality

While each cocoon appears tranquil, they’re also space-conscious. The hotel would not disclose how large its rooms are, but a cocoon for four or eight people looks like a tight fit, with bunk-bed-type situations that appear more optimized for square footage than for comfort and individual space. In other words, larger groups shouldn’t expect to spend much time in their cocoons outside of sleeping or getting ready. 

But when travelers aren’t resting, they can avail themselves of the hotel’s gym and studio space for yoga, Pilates, and group meditation classes. And for the professional road warrior, a lounge and coworking space offers a quiet place to work. Likewise, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant are expected to host up to 1,000 people at any given time when they finally open this summer. Zedwell Piccadilly is the first of four Zedwell hotels planned, with additional Zedwell locations set to open in Marble Arch, Tottenham Court Road, and Greenwich later this year.

In the end, the hotel’s decidedly minimal and space-conscious aesthetic may not appeal to every traveler. But at the very least, they’ll likely be able to say they managed a good night’s sleep.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—The most anticipated books of 2020, according to Goodreads
—Cabo’s newest luxury resort favors tranquility over nightlife
—The magic of the wedding industry’s most exclusive conference
—High-tech fitness offerings are the newest luxury hotel must-have
—The best travel destinations for every season of 2020
Follow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis.

About the Author
By JP Mangalindan
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

CryptoBitcoin
Bitcoin faces $14 billion options expiry while Middle East turmoil mounts
By Sidhartha Shukla and BloombergMarch 26, 2026
1 hour ago
photo of glass building
CryptoCryptocurrency
Housing giant Fannie Mae to accept crypto-backed mortgages for the first time
By Carlos GarciaMarch 26, 2026
2 hours ago
LawMark Cuban
A toddler needed a life-saving flight, and the insurer said no. Then Mark Cuban called
By Catherina GioinoMarch 26, 2026
2 hours ago
Middle EastIran
Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6
By The Associated Press, Jon Gambrell and David RisingMarch 26, 2026
2 hours ago
AIData centers
Southeast Asia could become a booming data center market if its data centers can beat the heat
By Angelica AngMarch 26, 2026
2 hours ago
Jessica Thompson poses outside her home.
Future of Workgender issues
Today’s Equal Pay Day. Women and men still disagree about who has more economic opportunities
By Jacqueline MunisMarch 26, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

C-Suite
'I didn’t want anybody shooting me': Five Guys CEO gave away $1.5 million bonus to employees over botched BOGO burger birthday celebration
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
1 day ago
Success
Palantir’s billionaire CEO says only two kinds of people will succeed in the AI era: trade workers — ‘or you’re neurodivergent’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
2 days ago
Environment
Vail Resorts CEO says it’s time to think beyond the $1,000 ski pass that helped build the empire
By Fortune EditorsMarch 26, 2026
16 hours ago
Success
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon says remote work breeds ‘rope-a-dope politics’ and stunts young workers’ growth
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
1 day ago
Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
3 days ago
Magazine
The youngest-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company is fighting Trump's cuts to keep Medicaid strong
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.