Harmonics

Harmonics

Project

001

Harmonics

Enhancing Spiritual Experience

Teaming up with DIG Architectural Studio, we embarked on a groundbreaking venture to fuse science, spirituality, and design in a temple space. Our interdisciplinary approach, blending architecture with cymatics, yielded a sanctuary that transcends convention. This project showcases the potential of design to inspire and elevate, pushing boundaries in the realms of science and spirituality.

Visual, Auditory and Tactile sense can be enhanced using architectural interventions to forge a deeper connection in order to enhance the experience and foster a more profound interaction.

Info

002

Timeline

01 Month

Category

Cymatics, Spatial Experience design, Heritage and culture

Collaborators

Utkarsh Verma, DIG Architects

Tools

Rhino, Grasshopper, Touch Designer

Case Study 001

003

Sound of Earth

The “Sounds of Earth” project by Hufft Architects is a unique concept that draws inspiration from the Golden Record of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977. This record is a time capsule of sorts, encapsulating a variety of sounds and images that represent Earth’s life and culture, including natural sounds and music from diverse cultures. Hufft Architects, a collective of architects, interior designers, artists, and fabricators, undertook this project with the aim of creating meaningful spaces and objects that reflect the essence of people and places.

Case Study 002

004

Shaped by water

This exhibition was an immersive multisensory installation that enabled observers to see and physically feel vibrations. It featured metal vessels containing shallow pools of water. As visitors moved around the bowls, sweeping tones vibrated each basin at different frequencies, creating unique wave patterns. The basins were designed to interact with human presence, resulting in more intense wave choreography near spectators.
Cymatics, the phenomenon behind this, works with vibrations to generate real-time wave patterns. This allows users to visualize sound and, in this case, use sound as a sculptural tool to shape water, thereby introducing a full-body sensory experience.

Case Study 001

005

Generating Patterns with OM Sound

As the next step, we delved into visualizing the cymatic patterns generated by this sacred sound. The intention was to incorporate these patterns into elements of the temple room. Using Rhino and Grasshopper software, we generated over 100 patterns based on the different frequencies of OM.

Ideation

006

Inspiration from the Garbhagrigha of Indian Temples

Taking inspiration from Indian temples, specific design moves were implemented to recreate the ambiance of the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), the innermost sanctuary of Hindu temples.

Engulfing users in cosmic sounds

007

incorporating OM cymatic pattern into the design

Once the basic layout of the room was finalized, we began exploring how to incorporate the cymatic pattern into the design. We started by 'unrolling' the existing walls and projecting the 'rippling' sound vibration patterns onto them. This approach aimed to create an immersive environment where users are 'engulfed' in the sounds of the universe.

Exploring Materiality

008

MR Walls - Corian

To achieve the rippling vibration effect, we explored the use of Corian as a material, drawing inspiration from the works of Mario Romano. We aim to employ Corian uniquely, crafting intricate patterns on walls through a subtractive process. By leveraging the translucent nature of Corian and illuminating it from behind, these patterns come to life, creating a captivating visual effect. Furthermore, the ripples introduce a tactile element to the project, enhancing the spatial interaction experience.

Deliver

009

Final Idea

During the ideation phase, Option #02 was favored by the client. Building upon this concept, the client requested a deeper connection with Lord Vishnu in the design. Consequently, symbols associated with Lord Vishnu, such as the ‘Vishnu tilak’, the ‘Panchajanya’ and the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’, were projected and backlit creating an ethereal experience. Additionally, the client's Tanjore Paintings were incorporated into niches on the side walls, ensuring that the primary focus area of the temple remained Lord Vishnu and the OM cymatic patterns

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VISHNU TILAK: Spiritual/Religious mark worn by devotees on their forehead depicting their affiliation with Lord Vishnu‍
PANCHAJANYA: The conch shell, held by Lord Vishnu, symbolizes strength, authority, and sovereignty. Its sound is believed to dispel evil and herald the presence of the divine.
‍SUDARSHAN CHAKRA: It is believed that Lord Shiva gave Lord Vishnu the discus-like weapon known as the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’. It represents strength, knowledge, and the eradication of evil.

Task 02

010

Furniture Design

Another task assigned, was to seamlessly blend traditional Indian art and heritage with modern design concepts, resulting in distinctive and culturally rich artwork and furniture pieces for the client's residence. These pieces were inspired by the overall theme of the apartment design― ‘Slicing/Scooping’ through solid volumes for them to be ‘bleeding Indian Heritage’.

On Site Progress

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