A pre-fabricated system for immersive meditation environments.

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CHALLENGE
Inscape a new start-up in meditation, tasked us with developing a concept space that would offer an immersive meditation environment and allow the brand to easily scale to new locations. The first PROTOspace in Chelsea occupies a large 6000sf ground floor, WITH THE PREFABRICATED MEDITATION DOMES, a retail area, and lounges. The retail system was devised of pre-fabricated bamboo "flaps" , that can move up and down as needed, and also function as acoustic panels. The 4000 sf lower level was designed as the offices for the start-up.

INNOVATION
Working closely with the client and experts on the psychology of meditation, we designed meditation domes that actively encourage a deep state of meditation through controlled sensory experiences. The bamboo Dome for 45 meditators looks like a simple natural space devoid of all technology, its radial grid shell of bamboo rods covered by a white linen cloth. But it is actually a highly engineered space with an immersive light- and sound environment; 2 LED rings can be adjusted to change light intensity and color, and a grid of tiny invisible speakers create a perfectly even sound space. Custom designed seating pads by Ligne Roset support the guests in all poses, helping them to balance and focus. This holistic enclosure helps to transform one’s mood and state of being.

PROTOTYPING - The Dome was developed parametrically, its 3D files were sent straight to the prototyping and prefab companies. Instrumental in the client’s decision making was the 1:1 prototype that Aria, an LA car-design company fabricated, a 1:1 robotically cnc-ed prototype. This helped develop the prefab logic for the final Dome, configured from a bamboo base and an ellipsoid bamboo spiraling gridshell covered by a white sail. Extensive testing of materials for Dome construction, seating comfort and seating spacing in the meditation room, helped create a pre-fabricated model, that facilitates easy & fast installation and ultimately an effortless atmosphere.

IMPACT
The prefabricated Dome, a fully immersive environment of light, sound, and air, guides the visitor through a curated meditation experience, and creates the ideal environment for a meditative experience. Furthermore 1:1 prototyping, local manufacturing, and the use of renewable materials lowers its carbon footprint and promotes personal and environmental well-being: resulting in a wellness-driven meditation brand that can be distributed internationally.