Literally translating to 'path', Raah aims to portray that, in its wrath, nature can trap us in all its power, rendering us helpless. The bridge that is a connection, ironically, doesn’t let you go anywhere.
Consumption is an everyday thing but an unforgiving trait. We keep imbibing from the nature around us so unconsciously, that the thought of the consequences barely ever hits us if not for some drastic happening.
Consumption is an everyday thing but an unforgiving trait. We keep imbibing from the nature around us so unconsciously, that the thought of the consequences barely ever hits us if not for some drastic happening.
The structure and motion of the ‘bridge’ are derived from the carnivorous plant of the Drosera family, which is seemingly beautiful but traps its prey by folding on itself in a beautiful motion. Even while being destructive, nature does it quite elegantly.
While not destroying the viewer/user, this project does pose a scare of
being trapped for some time while also giving one the space to introspect once it folds on it.
While not destroying the viewer/user, this project does pose a scare of
being trapped for some time while also giving one the space to introspect once it folds on it.
Here, both, the structure is consuming the person and the person feels consumed.
PREFACE
This project takes cues from the process of Permaculture.
Beyond scientifically-informed ecological design, Permaculture encourages practitioners to develop emotional and subjective links with the earth, and develop their imagination and creativity as valuable parts of the design process.
SYMBIOSIS
It is largely divided into six types, i.e., Competition,
Predation, Parasitism, Herbivory, Mutualism, Commensalism
Predation, Parasitism, Herbivory, Mutualism, Commensalism
Many potentialities of the earth become manifest only when they have been brought out by human imagination and toil
The goal of this relationship is not the maintenance of the status quo, but the emergence of new phenomena and new values
GROWTH - CARE
Plants respond to care and use their cells just the way animals use their senses by picking up electro-chemical signals from the environment
In multiple experiments conducted, plants showed reactions over time to human behaviour which affected their growth
Studying reactions and motions of carnivorous plants - understanding types of traps
TYPES OF TRAPS
the pitfall
the sticky “flypaper”
the bladder trap
the corkscrew trap
the snap trap
the sticky “flypaper”
the bladder trap
the corkscrew trap
the snap trap
Drawing similarities between Torture Devices and Carnivorous Plants
Patterns in plants and illusions
MOCK-UPS
Replicating the motion of a Venus Flytrap
Studying major joints on humans and torture traps
TOWARDS PROTOTYPING
A 3D model was built to understand scale and the angular shifts with every part of the bridge
Using transparent polycarbonate sheets and experimenting with holding angles with sections of wood and steel against a person for trials
THE WORKING
This bridge-installation is proposed to be placed at areas of high busyness. It would also only work when only one person is on the bridge, creating an element of surprise because there might be cases where it is being used by many to cross over onto the other side. As an unsuspecting person starts walking on the bridge and reaches the center, it snaps shut, enveloping the person. After staying shut for about five seconds, it opens back up, releasing the person
The world that is usually taken for granted, suddenly, instills a feeling of uncertainty and fragility; just like the times when the earth reacts to things that have been inflicted on it over the years
Manually pulling to 'activate' the living bridge prototype in life-size
Using a stepper motor to wind and unwind (using elastic properties) to portray the desired speed and effect of the movement of the bridge.