Materials: pvc piping, electrical cord, rubber sheeting, duct tape
Electrical cord is looped through the pvc piping to join the pipes together
The looping system allows pipes to fold onto themselves and be re-arranged
Functionality
First Function: Diffuse back roll (wires can be used as handles)
Second Function: Low seat (rest position)
Third Function: Focused lower back stretch
Intended for the working environment of a studio space, where students are either sitting at a desk or computer, the design offers students a chance to refresh from their static work mode and stretch their back in a variety of ways. The first function, defined as a diffuse back roll, engages the full lower back of the user. This motion of rolling ones back over the contours of the pipes triggers a soothing and yet stimulating response and generally reduces tension in the back and spinal cord. The second function, defined as a low seat, can be used as a rest position in-between function one and three. The third function, defined as a focused lower back stretch, targets the repercussions that follows after spending an extended duration of time sitting in a chair: compression in the lower back. The piece, defined through these three integrated functions, is actually in reaction to the environment in which it is placed in. The overall intent of the design is to have a positive impact on the health and body posture of students in a working studio environment.
Continued Exploration
Materials: PVC piping, rubber sheeting
PVC pipes are slotted through rubber sheeting to create a flexible membrane system
Flexible membrane system allows for re-arrangeable form
Possible seating positions begin to arise
Scale up: 3" diameter piping
The flexible membrane systems created supports an array of behavioral modalities and/or seating configurations based on user preference. The user arranges the form they want to interact with before actually interacting with the object. Lets say someone is tired and wants to lay down, all they would have to do is arrange a form preferable to that specific behavioral output. Different forms can then be arranged to suit different behavioral outputs, granting the user unlimited freedom and control over how they interact with the emergent system. An even more exaggerated scenario would involve the user using the object as a stretching device. Both gentle and steep slopes can be arranged out of the flexible membrane system, allowing the user to choose the desired contour they wish to align their back with, and in turn, perform various, specified stretches.
