The Generator

“Vision separates us from the world whereas the other senses unite us with it”

― Juhani Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses
 

Architecture and interior design, favor the eye above all. As a result of this occularcentrism, our interiors are often devoid of rich sensory stimulation beyond what is visually understood. This piece works to create a multisensory experience by leveraging the dynamic nature of water. Beyond the optic aspects of the furniture piece, The Generator activates the users sense of smell, touch, hearing, and our internal awareness of humidity and temperature. In the project, a mechanical pump takes water from the steel echo chamber  up to the hanging rain maker. From there, the water falls in thin streams back down into the chamber where the cycle begins anew. Lights illuminate upwards from the steel chamber, providing light to interior spaces and illuminating the falling water. The steel chamber itself is constructed from a steel bowl and steel pieces that were hand hammered into shape and then welded together. It is supported by a tripod with birch wood legs and a hand crafted steel support ring.