Chromatower
2018
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN, DESIGN STUDIO 6
This studio's theme was about Dreaming, dream incubation and dream like spaces. The early stages of this thesis were responses to varying precedent studies and prompts.
The notions of healing tied to sleep and dreaming date back to the Asklepions in Ancient Greece pertaining to the Greek god Asklepious. Where the ailed, -mentally, emotionally and or physically- would visit the temple bathe in a lustral grotto, and enter the Abaton; the dream inducing sleep chamber. The patients would then enter a slumber where the Greek God Asklepious would visit them in their dreams and provide the appropriate remedy.
Upon investigating the oneiric term, Mediation, it's interpretation was narrowed down
to Transcendental Meditation. A meditation technique attributed to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Where he believe there where 7 states of consciousness. And once practicing Transcendental Meditation one achieves the fourth stage.
waking consciousness
deep sleep
dreaming
transcendental consciousness
cosmic consciousness
god consciousness
unity consciousness
According to Maharishi, each person has a designated frequency (sound/mantra) that corresponds to unknotting the entanglement that is our monkey mind.
ABOVE ARE 18"X20" PLEXIGLASS AND SPRAY PAINT WITH BACK LIGHT PIECES. EACH IS SUPPOSED TO THE EVOKE THE TERM MEDITATION AND THE FIRST FOUR STATES OF BEING THAT CORRESPOND TO MAHARISHI'S IDEOLOGY.
Another prompt was to research and investigate a form of therapy, chroma (color) therapy was main instigator and conceptual backing for this proposal.
Below is an infographic created outlining the time-line of Chromatherapy practices in different civilizations (left), and an overlaid association and correspondence that occurs between colors and disparate systems (psychology, chakra healing, Ayurvedic healing, sound association, emotional association, physical association)
Upon acquiring this basis, we are asked to return to dreams and sleeping and to design a dream inducing space. This starts by designing around a bed of sorts, and with the research at hand, 7 "CHROMAPODS" are designed each pertaining to one of the 7 vibrational cores that resonate along one's spine and with the electromagnetic spectrum. (RED , ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN , BLUE , INDIGO, MAGENTA) Furthermore, each CHROMAPOD is associated with a DREAMSCAPE which are simulated environments found in nature.
Interior render view of Chromarium
The CHROMARIUM becomes a healing center one visits to restore balance in their varying concerns of illness. As the main cause of illness that is explained by Chromatherapy is due to an imbalance one's vibrational cores. Thus the visitor/ patient ascends the stairs and lays on the bed and then continues to the next pod. Essentially, one would start with the CHROMAPOD that is prescribed to them and then goes through remaining 6 pods so total balance can be acquired.
A look inside:
Interior daytime simulation visualizations:
Interior nighttime simulation visualizations:
Another aspect, is its imposition to be situated in an urban context. With the understanding of of today’s urban monument’s take form in piercing skyscraper that assert the nature of this healing. From it’s moniker, the over arching form of healing corresponds to color, and a thorough and cross cultural study of the healing properties of color. The proposal showcases a speculative study to the shift in medicinal studies that are now catering a more holistic approach, especially in urban environments.
Playful experimentation with the exterior moments:
