The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that it has developed a design of a Seoul-type smoking booth to reduce damage and conflict caused by secondhand smoke. “There was a lack of proper smoking areas in the city center, where high-rise buildings are concentrated, and there were many complaints about secondhand smoke due to smoking,” a Seoul city official said. “We have created a design of a Seoul-type smoking booth to prevent every corner of the city from becoming a smoking place.”
Seoul-type smoking booths are designed in three types, open, partially open and closed, so that they can be installed according to urban conditions. Depending on the nature of the space and the surrounding environment, it can be installed selectively. The open booth is a structure suitable for places that require visual openness, such as parks and cultural spaces. Panel with ashtray attached can be freely assembled and installed according to field conditions.
The partially opened booth blocks the gaze by blocking only one side, but has a sense of openness. It is designed to be suitable for public buildings or commercial districts. The closed-type booth is completely cut off from the outside and has been developed to be suitable for densely packed areas by enhancing air circulation functions. However, although the closed type can minimize secondhand smoke conflict, maintenance costs are incurred because the filter for inhaling cigarette smoke needs to be replaced periodically. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said, “The partial open type and closed type are designed to be flexibly installed in 10-meter, 7-meter and 5-meter width specifications according to the installation environment.”
The design of the smoking booth is designed with a core value of “harmony with the urban environment.” It uses achromatic colors to blend naturally with street buildings and walking environments, and blocks the eyes of users and pedestrians with translucent glass and restrained structure.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has set up a closed smoking booth at Cheongnyangni Station Plaza, designated as a non-smoking area. It plans to test-run it from the 26th. In addition, the design guidelines for Seoul-type smoking booths will be distributed to each autonomous region and the private sector this month to be applied to suit the characteristics and purpose of the space. Choi In-kyu, a design policy officer at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, “We have designed the smoking booth to improve the street environment comfortably based on the design, rather than simply turning away or hiding it. We ask for your active participation and cooperation so that we can create a clean and orderly street culture.”
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
