| Title |
Improving Spatial Guidelines for Daycare Centers Considering Infant Safety and Operational Convenience |
| Authors |
이진원(Lee, Jin-Won); 권혜진(Kwon, Hye-Jin) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.14774/JKIID.2026.35.1.021 |
| Keywords |
Public Daycare Center; Infant Safety; Operational Convenience; Daycare Facility; Spatial Improvement |
| Abstract |
The 2019 amendment to the Infant Care Act mandated the installation of public daycare centers in apartment complexes with 500 or more households. While Newlywed Hope Towns introduced a comprehensive childcare center model, standardized designs and the post-completion operator selection structure have prevented field requirements from being reflected, resulting in repeated remodeling requests after occupancy. This study aims to analyze the operational conditions of public daycare centers in Newlywed Hope Towns and derive improvement measures considering infant safety and operator convenience. The research targets three public daycare centers located in apartment complexes with 500, 750, and 1,000 households respectively in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Field surveys and in-depth interviews with operators were conducted from May 7 to June 30, 2025. The spatial analysis was categorized into entrance systems, childcare spaces, and hygiene facilities. Interview contents covered spatial problems, voluntary modifications, circulation issues, and improvement requirements. Results revealed significant discrepancies between spatial design and actual operational needs. Major problems include inadequate classroom size, structural limitations of toilet facilities, and inefficient circulation safety issues. Common defects found across all institutions include poor ventilation, blind spots, and difficulties in teacher observation. Operators attempted voluntary improvements through converting toilet structures, professionalizing cooking facilities, and reorganizing spatial functions. However, fundamental limitations persist due to structural constraints. All operators emphasized that “specialized spaces like daycare centers should be designed by professionals who understand the field.” The study proposes three key improvement directions: establishing safety-centered design principles, implementing efficient space planning, and strengthening design expertise. Safety-centered design should include adjusting window heights to minimum 1,200mm, corner rounding, and creating observable structures. This research provides practical evidence for future daycare center improvements by analyzing spaces from actual user perspectives. |