Interview with Soo In Chae
Enleum Inc.
Red Dot: What were the most important aspects when developing the Life-Saving Bathhouse for older people?
We began by identifying the most common causes of bathhouse-related accidents. As people use this space daily, it was essential for prevention measures to become a natural element of the routine act of bathing. Older people are highly sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, so we created a space that gradually raises the body temperature to reduce the risk of heat shock. We also addressed mobility and safety concerns by integrating non-slip tiles, edgeless structures and contrasting colours on surfaces for greater visibility.
How did you experience the collaboration with medical experts in this project?
Unlike most design projects, the priority here wasn’t aesthetics but rather safety – both a challenge and a new learning experience for us as designers. Through discussions with medical experts, we learned that drinking warm tea before bathing is an effective way to help the body to adapt to temperature changes. That inspired us to create the tea bar. We also included the traditional Korean underfloor heating system, known as “ondol”, into the design of the warm-up zone.
Many societies are ageing rapidly. How, in your view, does this affect the design field in general?
An ageing society means that people take longer to react to, and move through, space. Most environments today are designed for the physical abilities of an average adult. As designers, we believe in universal design – spaces that are comfortable for people of all ages and physical abilities. After all, we all get older, and the spaces we design today will remain with us as we age.
