INHALE

HONOURABLE MENTION of Meditation Roofs

+ HONOURABLE MENTION

Meditation Roofs

[7717]

INHALE – Living architecture devices to enhance citizens’ wellness

Team

Name: Álvaro Germán Villacís Salazar

Instagram: @villacisalvaro

Nationality: ColombianInstitution / Company: Arte y Uso SAS

---

Although there is not a universally accepted definition for meditation, there is consensus about its benefits which include but are not limited to reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and enhancing peace, awareness and well-being. It is a big deal.

Practicing meditation consists on focusing the mind on a particular object, thought or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Breathing is key.

The brief asked for a way to adapt the roofs of the buildings located at the residential quarters of contemporary cities in order to provide the necessary conditions for practicing meditation on them. In this order of ideas, the proposal considers that achieving those conditions is, to some extent, a matter of height. Therefore, it develops a device that can go up in the air (inhale), where individuals would find optimal conditions for meditation, away from the noise & crowd of the city, regardless the height of their building’s roof.The device consists of a tethered balloon that is restrained by tethers attached to the roofs. The base of the tethers is wound around the drum of a winch that is used to raise (inhale) and lower (exhale) the balloon.

---

---

Jury Comments

• Original idea but the experience might become too exciting for the users, where a more relaxing meditative space would be desired. -Olav Bruin
• Love the explorative aspect! -Studio MUKA
• Expands the concept of the roof. Futuristic. A radical concept of mediated space.