The company’s group has been developing its housing brand under the name “PRIME,” with PRIME FIT being the name given to its renovation business. Prime Fit Yokohama Tomioka is the second property following the one sold in 2018, and the first along the Keikyu Line.
As the preface of the renovation project indicates, the property is a 28-year-old corporate housing complex that has undergone a large-scale renovation of the exterior and interior, including renewal of water supply and drainage pipes and enhancement of thermal insulation performance, while the exterior remains unchanged. In addition, some of the homes feature “Puzzle Fit Select,” a selection of more than 180 patterns, including kitchen layouts, living room and bedroom layouts, and three interior color options to suit the buyer’s lifestyle.
A train-like workspace has been created in the common area.
The key feature of this property is the first-floor service area. The space on the west side of the entrance has a “workspace” and a “co-living” area for residents to use, which is the first attempt in the railroad industry to utilize retired railcar parts.
The workspace unveiled this time is equipped with seating for eight people, and even has sleeve partitions and a screen shelf, just like on a train. These seats are actually the company’s specialty.
The company is also known for its “electric first car,” which is a special feature for enthusiasts, and also for its seats, which are made of spring cushions instead of urethane to differentiate them from competing lines and improve ride comfort. In addition, the company is also using these seats in its new building, which opened in 2019, and has confirmed that they are sufficiently durable.
There are power outlets under the seats for the number of passengers, and when completed, a table will be installed for comfortable working. In addition, three private booths with doors are available, and the occupancy signs on these booths are made of recycled car side lights.
The co-living room, which was not shown to the public at this time but is intended for small groups, will be equipped with sofas made of seats.
These parts are from the “1500 class” built in 1985-1986. This group was the first of the 1500 class cars with steel bodies, and consisted of one train and four cars. At first, they were operated on the main line, but at the end of their life, they were moved to the Daishi Line.
In recent years, with the introduction of the “Type 1000 Series 1890,” nicknamed “LeCiel,” the number of cars being scrapped is progressing, and the parts used here are said to be from the cars that will be retired on March 15, 2023. The interior, exterior, and equipment of this model have been renewed since 2001, and the seats and other parts used in this case are believed to be those after the renewal. Incidentally, only two trains and eight cars of this group remain in service, which will also be retired soon.
Mr. Kensuke Saito, Senior Manager of the Residential Business Department, Living Business Creation Division, Keihin Electric Express Railway, says that this property was born from two points of view: “What can we do in the real estate business (as an environmentally friendly manufacturing)? The fact that the property is a renovation, and not a new construction, was also a boost to the project.
He commented that he hoped that the common areas with their own unique world view would not only “attract people’s interest” but also be “a part of their pride to show their residents that this is the kind of place they live in.
I then asked him if it would have been okay to go as far as the “train rooms” that can be seen in some hotels these days. When asked if it would have been better to go as far as the “train rooms” seen in some hotels these days, he explained that “since these are condominiums for sale, if we went too elaborate, it would divide tastes, so we tried to keep the colors as subtle as possible.
On the other hand, he also expressed his honest desire to do more. When he visited the factory (Keikyu Finetech Kurihama Plant of the Keikyu Group) to select parts for utilization, he found a number of items that could be used, including “driver’s seats” and “fans. The company is thinking of expanding the use of these items to commercial facilities, and said, “We hope this will be the start of a spread to other places as well.
© Source travel watch
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