Warm Isolation
2021
Rituals
My first university project explored the relationship between rituals and space. For me, it centered around my personal ritual with coffee—making it and the tradition of traveling to my aunt's to get it. This experience inspired me to design a shared space that collaborates with and complements other rituals, blending individual practices into a communal environment.
My Ritual
Previously, I shared three sequences of rituals that my family enjoys in the morning, showing how, despite being separated by distance, we still connect through this shared experience. Since then, I’ve included others in my ritual—specifically, my morning coffee. While it brings me closer to my family, it also connects me with my flatmates, as we all enjoy the strong taste of my Auntie's coffee together. This is why I call my ritual Warm Isolation. The physical warmth of a hot drink reminds me of my family, even though we’re apart, while the shared experience with my flatmates brings a sense of connection through the simple act of enjoying our morning caffeine boost.
In these three sequences, I’ve illustrated how my father, my aunt, and I share the same love for coffee, yet each of our preparations is unique. While our rituals may seem different in these depictions, we’ve each made the process our own. Despite the variations in our methods, the sense of comfort and familiarity in brewing remains constant across all three sequences, though the final taste may differ to suit our individual preferences.
To introduce the space where I carry out my ritual, I’ve created a section and floor plan of my building. I’ve highlighted areas important to my ritual, like the hallway to my accommodation and the kitchen and hallway where I spend most of my time. Since I live on the sixth floor of a large building, instead of measuring the exact height, I’ve reimagined the section to scale using my own space. This helped me understand how the space works with my ritual and how I can adapt it for a shared ritual environment.
Making -
Making -
Collaborative Design
Our shared ritual space includes six rituals, some stationary and some requiring movement. We designed a table that could be supported either by itself or by one of our stationary rituals in the corner. This makes the table important for all of us, as we help each other with our rituals.
We added two main features: a sliding door for a cooking ritual, allowing for serving without needing to be at the table all the time, and a retractable drawer under the leg for gathering ice for a water bottle. These features make the table flexible and adaptable to different needs.
