Seoul City Develops Universal Design Model for 'Childcare Convenience Spaces' Accessible to Men and People with Disabilities

Definition of Necessary Elements Such as Breastfeeding, Weaning, Toilet, Rest, and Play Areas with Type-Based Combinations
Consideration of Various Caregiver Characteristics Including Men, Disabled, and Care Workers for Unrestricted Use by Everyone

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has developed a universal design model to enable caregivers visiting public facilities with infants and toddlers to use childcare convenience spaces conveniently and safely, regardless of gender, age, or disability. It has been created in the form of a guidebook and e-Book so that it can be applied anywhere in public facilities such as government offices, cultural and welfare facilities.

On the 22nd, Seoul defined the necessary elements for childcare convenience spaces such as ▲nursing and weaning spaces ▲toilet spaces ▲rest and play spaces through consultations with universal design experts and citizen interviews, and presented specific spatial configurations considering the common inconveniences experienced by caregivers of infants and toddlers and the developmental characteristics of infants and toddlers showing various behaviors by age. In addition, from project planning to design, space creation, maintenance, management, and operation, combinations of elements by scale and type of project site were suggested so that they can be reflected according to the conditions of the site. A checklist for inspection at each implementation stage was also included.

Through this, Seoul aims to go beyond the existing nursing rooms, which were simply care spaces, to spaces where children can be fed baby food, pregnant women and babies can rest, and where the first child can play beside the mother while nursing the second child. In particular, the city designed the space to be accessible without restrictions to all caregivers, including men, people with disabilities, foreigners, and care workers, breaking away from the stereotype that "childcare is the mother's responsibility."

For example, to accommodate wheelchair users or tall caregivers, the lower part of the kitchen space is left open to allow placement of wheelchairs or chairs. A multipurpose footrest is installed so that caregivers with weak strength can easily change diapers without lifting the child, and coat hangers of various heights are installed to hang belongings, reflecting the diverse types of caregivers.

The Seoul Universal Design Center selected and completed the creation of two pilot sites last year through a public contest: Guro-gu Health Center (welfare facility) and Exhibition Building 3 of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (cultural facility).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.