MyBonsai
Year 3 Project - 3 Weeks long
In this project I set out to answer the question: How do we connect people back with nature in a rapidly advancing world?
Capturing the essence of Bonsai
This process began with the question: how can we connect people who may live in urban or heavily populated environments to nature again? What might be stopping these people from maintaining plants or bringing nature into the home?
In conclusion; I found the answer to this question to be two fold; a lack of resources such as natural lighting, as well as a lack of time to tend to more sensitive plants.
Bringing Bonsai Into the Home
When analyzing what may be symbolic for a human connection to nature, I found no better example than bonsai. In this project, my aim was to make a planter capable of streamlining the bonsai process, as well as representing the key points of the bonsai philosophy; maintaining peace and promoting meditation in the owner.
Form Experimentation
During the ideation phase, I experimented extensively with the form of both the bonsai pot, as well as the lighting fixture. The primary goal was to implement the primary ideas behind bonsai into the design, namely; how can I have the lighting and pot represent the calm and peaceful nature of traditional bonsai. Some key form considerations include the following:
Product represents the serene nature of the bonsai philosophy
Base maintains a similar form and material choice to traditional bonsai pots
Product contains integrated lighting solutions to successfully grow indoor plants
Modern meets traditional
When designing the pot, traditional bonsai techniques and aesthetics were kept in mind. To achieve these goals, the pot primary consists of a stone material, featuring small black adonized steel detailing around the upper rim as well as around the lighting fixture. The base of the pot consists of a stained dark wood material, creating a unique contrast between the two materials.
Simplifying the Bonsai Process
With the addition of on LED Screen, the user is informed about information of the bonsai including soil moisture, temperature, PH level, and the time of the day. With the addition of this information the user is more aware of the bonsai's needs and can more readily adjust the plants parameters.
Built in Lighting Solution
In this project, It was necessary to develop a planter that could provide the necessary light to small homes or apartments that may not have access to many windows or sunlight.
