In 2011, Applied worked with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to develop creative, practical interventions aimed at increasing physical activity among its citizens.
The project was initiated by Seoul’s Culture, Tourism and Design Headquarters, who approached us with an inquiry inspired by New York’s Active Design Guidelines. Now widely adopted, the ‘active design’ approach was new at the time and introduced innovative ideas on how urban planning and architecture can influence public health, wellbeing and behaviour.
Understanding Seoul’s exercise patterns
Each city has distinct urban lifestyle characteristics. These are shaped by transportation systems, built and natural environments, economic factors, cultural heritage, work and social routines. Identifying effective active design interventions requires understanding universal urban patterns, as well as city-specific conditions.
Applied’s analysis of existing research and survey data revealed multiple barriers to exercise, including time constraints, lack of awareness, absence of companionship, financial considerations, health concerns, and limited access to space and equipment. Intrinsic factors included people not thinking it was necessary, and self-described "laziness". Amongst all these reasons, a lack of time emerged as the primary reason stopping them from exercising for most respondents.1
We developed recommendations addressing these challenges, with a particular focus on the crucial limitation of time, providing the City with evidence-based strategies to promote active transportation and exercise within the city.
Integrating exercise into daily life
Seoul’s citizens work among the longest hours of the OECD countries.2 Bearing this in mind, Applied’s solutions focused on incorporating exercise opportunities into people’s daily commutes and routines. This approach helps minimise the time commitment people need to invest to adopt healthy habits.
A key initiative proposed was establishing ‘active zones’ with exercise facilities at strategic subway stations. Applied’s researcher and designer, Kyoungmo Kim, identified Yeouinaru station as an ideal pilot location, given its close proximity to the Han River, where existing recreational spaces were being used by some local communities. He saw how use of this area could be increased and new groups of people could be encouraged to exercise there.
The proposal recommended utilising vacant station spaces to include:
- Secure lockers for runners
- Changing facilities
- Health monitoring equipment
- Interactive screens and digital scoreboard displays
- Information about exercising in the city
- Sportswear maintenance and cleaning facilities
- Support staff
This infrastructure would seamlessly integrate exercise into daily commutes, eliminating the need for additional trips to home or to the gym.
From concept to implementation
The past decade has seen significant regeneration along the Han River waterfront, creating an attractive environment for exercise and social gathering. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has now implemented Applied’s recommendations at Yeouinaru, establishing a ‘Runner’s Station’ that features:
- Storage lockers, changing rooms, and powder rooms to freshen up.
- Digital screens with coaching on posture and stretching for safe running.
- Sophisticated scales and equipment to check your body weight, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as shoe sterilisers.
- Sleek neon lights and clear signage that make the environment standout.
- Rankings and upcoming events shared on screens, as well as places for photoshoots, making the exercise experience enjoyable.
These features combined create a space where people can conveniently stop by or meet with friends to do physical activity, elevating the station to a true runner’s ‘basecamp’.
The success of this initiative has led to plans for ten additional ‘Fun stations’, including locations originally identified as ‘active zones’ by Applied, as part of the broader subway station innovation initiative.
