This Sleeping Pod Could Revolutionize Airport Travel

Anyone who’s tried it knows that sleeping comfortably in an airport is next to impossible. There’s something about the deadly combination of unyielding chairs, fluorescent lights, and incessant loudspeaker announcements that dooms the slumber process before it even begins. But thanks to concept designer Rafael Martin, there could finally be an answer: the aDream sleep pod.

Martin’s pod is a sleekly designed structure capable of housing two sleeping adults on its two expandable mattresses, which each extend in a Murphy-bed style and also come equipped with an electrical socket and light for reading. The steel-and-plywood pod is meant to be easily moved throughout the airport and can fit seamlessly into transitory areas like terminal hallways in addition to more tranquil spaces, like premium airline lounges. Each unit can also be joined with another to create sleep clusters that have the look and feel of a mini–airport hotel. Functionally, Martin envisions the pods to be rented to weary travelers for a to-be-determined period of time and accessed with a membership card. Perhaps it goes without saying, but the pods will be fully cleaned between each use.

Whether Martin’s design will come to life or not is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: The world is ready for a more comfortable airport experience.