Improving Smoking Manners in Beijing's Hutong District

Ash Tray Drain Cover Design

This unique ash tray drain cover design aims to improve smoking manners in Beijing's Hutong district without drastically changing the locals' habits. The designers understand that design often changes lifestyles to improve function or quality, but sometimes it can restrict or alter habits. Instead of establishing smoking areas at the corner of the street, Okamoto and Deguchi propose adding an ash tray function to the drain covers. This way, the locals do not have to change their habit of throwing cigarette butts into the drain, which, to some extent, improves smoking manners.

The drain cover is made from a 3mm laser-cut metal plate with baking paint, while the bottom is constructed from 3mm perforated stainless steel. The dimensions of the drain cover are 840mm x 540mm x 60mm, and the ash tray measures 840mm x 540mm x 80mm.

Smokers on the street are often looking for an ash tray for their cigarette butts. Sometimes, they resort to throwing them into the drain to hide their bad manners instead of littering the street. This ash tray drain cover design can change their careless habit into a more considerate one.

The installation project started in July 2015 in Beijing and was completed in October 2015. It was exhibited at the Beijing International Design Week 2015. The design was inspired by on-site research conducted after the smoking policy was implemented in Beijing. The designers observed different behaviors among smokers in the city, with CBD residents seeking ash trays in outdoor public spaces, while those living in the Hutong area seemed less concerned about the new policy.

This innovative design, created by Keizo Okamoto and Tsutomu Deguchi, has been awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Street and City Furniture Design category in 2017. The award recognizes outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that contribute to quality of life improvements, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology.