German amateur photographer Bernd Hagemann now lives in Shanghai, China, where he often walks the streets to photograph extreme nappers. He not only finds the city, culture and fast-paced life fascinating but also marvels at the ability of some of the people to sleep in the most awkward and strangest of positions.
Hagemann adds the pictures to his huge website of more than 600 photographs. He actually divides the nappers into three categories: the hardsleepers, who can drop off to sleep on anything; the softsleepers, who need something more comfortable; and the group sleepers, who need company.
Hagemann adds, "The calmness, the flexibility and the adaptability of the ones, who are jointly responsible for the revival of China, fascinates me."
He also said on his website, "They talk about The Sleeping Giant. About The Birth of the New Super Power or The Awaken(ing) of the Red Dragon. Very often with a strange kind of undertone, which is supposed to frighten us. The reality looks definitely more peaceful."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Public Sleeping
- Opportunity to design new and innovative public sleeping solutions that provide comfort and functionality.
- Flexible Work Culture
- Opportunity to promote flexible work schedules that allow workers to take occasional naps while still being productive.
- Health and Wellness
- Opportunity to develop products and services that help individuals improve their sleep patterns and overall well-being.
Where This Applies
- Architecture and Interior Design
- Opportunity to design public spaces that incorporate comfortable and functional nap areas into their designs.
- Employment and Workforce
- Opportunity to implement company policies that promote a healthy work-life balance and encourage employee wellness through napping.
- Health and Wellness
- Opportunity to develop products and services that help individuals improve their sleep patterns and overall well-being.
