2023 Seoul Design International Forum - <Mind Garden>, a Seoul-style counseling space where you take care of your heart and take care of it with a counselor
2023 Seoul Design International Forum - <Mind Garden>, a Seoul-style counseling space where you take care of your heart and take care of it with a counselor
Hello, everyone!
I'm Jae-in, and I'm working as an online supporter for the 2023 Seoul Design International Forum.
The Seoul Design International Forum, held in Seoul on September 14, 2023, is an event that brings together top speakers from world-class designers, architects, and experts to discuss the present and future of Seoul's design that citizens want, under the vision of "Humanizing Cities."
The forum focused on the role of public design as an "urban alchemist" who can promote new experiences in the public realm, generate memories, and even drive the city's competitiveness through collective memory.
What is public design here,
It is a design method to improve everyday life and enhance citizens' convenience and happiness by designing public places, facilities, and environments. It is applied across various areas, such as urban planning, transportation systems, and public facilities, to improve the development of the city and the quality of life of its citizens. Public design creates social values and effects in various aspects based on user-centered principles. This is often done through civic participation and collaboration and is recognized as part of efforts to make the city a more pleasant and sustainable space.
I'm very excited about the Seoul Design International Forum in the future.
If you want to know more about the Seoul Design International Forum, please check the link below.
In order to continue the meaning of the 2023 Seoul Design International Forum and publicize various Seoul design policies to citizens, I visited the Seoul-style counseling space <Mind Garden> located at the Dongdaemun-gu Single-person Household Support Center.
In 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the number of single-person household support centers from 22 to 24 and improved the facilities by remodeling the spaces of nine autonomous districts, including Dongdaemun-gu, Seongdong-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Seocho-gu, Geumcheon-gu, Gwanak-gu, Songpa-gu, Dobong-gu, and Gangbuk-gu. It is said that the number of counselors dedicated to the "single-person household support center" has been expanded from 35 to 60, which is nearly twice as many. In addition, the Dongdaemun-gu Single-person Household Support Center has prepared a wide range of leisure and cultural programs such as exercise and art that reflect the various interests of single-person households to support the healthy and happy daily life of single-person households.
Furthermore, in addition to leisure culture programs, the Dongdaemun-gu Single Person Support Center supports detailed programs for single-person households such as "psychological counseling," "self-care and life capacity enhancement," and "social network support projects" that support gatherings of three or more people to relieve loneliness in single-person households.
The flower of the Dongdaemun-gu Single-Person Household Support Center program can be seen as psychological counseling for single-person households. This psychological counseling place is the Seoul-type counseling space <Mind Garden>.
Address: 2nd floor of Dongdaemun Resident Happiness Center, 89, Muhak-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is carrying out the "Stress Relief Design Project" every year to realize a healthy life for individuals by improving various stress factors that citizens face by life cycle and situation through design. Recently, the demand for psychological counseling has soared due to the increase in stressful diseases caused by the prolonged COVID-19, but it is said that it has developed the Seoul-type counseling space "Mind Garden" by conducting "Stress Relief Design: Counseling Space" to improve the quality of counseling services centered on welfare facilities in local communities, paying attention to social problems with poor actual counseling facilities.
"Mind Garden" was developed based on reliable domestic and foreign papers and evidence presented by experts to create an environment where counselors and clients can focus on counseling. In "Mind Garden", we were able to look at design points that focused on three keywords: soundproofing, concentration, and safety, beyond just visual interiors.
Then, shall we take a look at the Seoul-type counseling space "Mind Garden" with me?
<Mind Garden> recognized through pictures
Space production point
A cozy interior like an attic is created to heal just by staying in the space and feel safe to talk about intimate things. The cheerful birdsong at the entrance welcomes the client to the Mind garden.
1. Sound absorption finish with enhanced sound insulation effect
2. <Woodtone Wall> Relieves Stress
3. A comfortable tone <Silk Wallpaper>
4. <Blue-green curtain> that gives you a sense of comfort and stability
5. a calm green-tone <floor lug>
6. Multipurpose built-in <Secondary space>
Consultation Zone Point
There is a space where you can maintain the appropriate physical and psychological distance between the counselor and the client for about an hour and focus solely on the consultation. The cozy atmosphere of the consultation zone and the cozy fabric sofa given by the spot lighting were very impressive.
1. <Wired Table> that maintains a proper distance
2. <Fabric sofa/cushion> in consideration of the client
3. <Counselor's Chair> that covers the body stably
4. <Must-have props> to help run counseling
5. <Drawer cabinets> for storing consultation tools
6. <Partition Wall> which enhances psychological sound insulation effect
7. <Spot Lighting> to complement functional illumination
Media Window Point
Depending on the client's spatial preference and psychological state, you can choose from five video modes (night sky, sunset sea, rainy forest, etc.) to stay in during the consultation. Through natural scenery and sounds of nature, you can control sensitive emotions and increase your concentration on counseling and conversation. There is also a tea ceremony to help calm counseling.
1. Enjoying the natural scenery <Selective Media Window>
2. <Indirect lighting> that makes a cozy space
3. Buried shelves with healing content
4. Sit down and enjoy <Sitting Rest Area>
The moment I first entered "Mind Garden", I was moved and comforted by the warm space and beautiful colors. It was time to discover a new space where I can relax, open, and heal.
Anyone living in Seoul can experience various counseling and programs at the Dongdaemun-gu Single-person Household Support Center, so if you want to take care of your heart and care for it with a counselor, visit Mind Garden of the Dongdaemun-gu Single-person Support Center and the Dongdaemun-gu Single-person Household Support Center!
