02.09.2005
Take a nap at the airport

Metronap     You went shopping, you have eaten a meal and now all you have to do is wait for your flight. Just one thing that would be really nice to do would be a little nap before departure. You could, of course, go to a lounge or take a newspaper to a quiet place where it is nice to sit, but what about somewhere to lie down?
That is also an option now, too. Take a powernap in a semi-private napping chair with built-in music: this cocoon-like pod is now in Europe for the first time – at Copenhagen Airport.


The idea for the Metronaps pod came from two friends – Christopher Lindholst and Arshad Chowdhury – working in New York’s financial district. They often saw colleagues fall asleep over their desks or go to the lavatory to powernap. Two years ago they launched their new napping chair, which is already used in New York City and Canada. One of the places featuring Metronaps pods is the Empire State Building; you can walk in during normal office hours and buy a 20-minute nap for about DKK 112.

Empire State Building and Vancouver Airport only

“When we started investigating people’s sleeping habits, we found out that there are two times when it is difficult for us to stay awake. One time is while we normally sleep: between 4 and 5 in the morning. The other time is much more critical: between 1 and 5 in the afternoon,” commented Christopher Lindholst, the Danish member of the design duo. “We lack energy, we become less efficient, and we may even jeopardise the safety of people around us if we work with machinery or drive a car during that time. A short nap of just 15-20 minutes makes a difference,” adds Lindholst, who looks forward to displaying his Metronaps pod at the airport. ”The Metronaps pod is excellent for airports. It is already a great success at Vancouver Airport, and it would fit very well into Copenhagen Airport’s modern Scandinavian design. I firmly believe that there is great potential for the Metronaps pod here.”

The two inventors of the Metronaps pod hope that the concept can be rolled out to hospitals, universities and other airports.

Metronaps pods can be seen in Copenhagen Airport’s Terminal 2, in the area where Pier B begins. The Metronaps pods there can be used free of charge and are being displayed in connection with the airport’s design festival, which runs through 30 September.