Humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.
In urban environment the connection with nature becomes rare. Bioshade`s aim is to reestablish the connection by exposing people to natural elements and processes in urban indoor environment.
The result is an alternative to window curtains and shades that are grown over time. Bioshade does not just offer cover and decorate the environment but also stimulates senses in the sensory deprived artificial environments that humans have built.
The structure of Bioshade consists of standardized sticks allowing user to build the shape and size needed. The structure is meant to be constructed larger parallel to the plants growth. To cover the whole structure the user has to interact with the vines by directing them along the structure if necessary.This makes the user notice natural process – the growth of a plant. To keep the plant growing and hydrated over long time of absence the base acts as a water reservoir. The reservoir is made from brass and finished with corroded surface indicates the change of time that represents natural process.
The sphere shape on top is made to ease the watering of the plant. Inside the watering tube is a gauge showing how much water is in the reservoir.
By having plants covering the window helps to cool down the indoors and the sunlight that travels through plants creates shadows that we can meet in natural environments.
Bioshades is not meant to block the light – while the plants help to provide cover to the inhabitants, the reflective surfaces attached to the structure help to increase the amount of light in the room. By reflecting light and color from the sky to indoors, increases dwellers sense of circadian rhythm and gives a better understanding what conditions are outside. The color during the day vary from bright white to light blue depending on whether there is clouds or not. In the evening the color goes darker, calming the dweller for a good night sleep. Reflectors have pressed relief pattern for diffusing the light and for creating stimulating reflections when direct light hits them. At first the reflectors look the same but actually each of them has a unique pattern – just like in nature one can never find exactly the same object.
Cooperation: Designership
Author: Joonas Riisalu
2019
