Camping in Airports: A Modest Design Proposal
I’ve slept on the floor of at least twenty airports, many of them more than once. The worst was probably Dakar, Senegal, where I had to bribe my way to a room with a solitary plastic chair guarded by a swarm of mosquitoes.
Rome was also surprisingly awful. I’m not sure if I was expecting a maid to drop in with gelato at 3am, but I wasn’t expecting a janitor to try to rob me. I shook it off in the morning and headed to the lounge for a desperately-needed shower.
I don’t know if there’s a best airport for sleeping on the floor, but Singapore and Hong Kong certainly come to mind as passable options.
Chien-Hui Ko, a designer studying in Berlin, has created an alternative: adjustable sleeping pods that offer weary travelers a modest amount of privacy and comfort. Check out the RESMO, a portable piece of folding furniture that can provide a comfortable and semi-private resting place in the airport for passengers whose flights have been delayed or cancelled.
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These pods remind me of the Yoga Room in SFO Terminal II. I always love stopping in whenever I’m there.
Of course, the problem is that you probably wouldn’t want to travel with one of these in your carry-on… and most airports don’t actually encourage passengers to spend the night in the terminal.
Nevertheless, it’s a fun idea that made me smile.
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Original source + images: Yanko Design
Hat tip: PSFK
