Ode to heterotopia, furniture for daydreaming

Abstract

Ode to Heterotopia is a practice-led research composed of written part and artistic production. Artistic production, a combination of a rug and furniture, is in the main focus of this research.

While conducting my research, I used sources of inspiration such as Hvitträsk home/atelier in Finland, and takht from the gardens of Yazd, Iran, Ode to Heterotopia is crafted based on the parallel narratives between the two cultures. I place my work in between the realms of art and design. The main location for on-site research is done in the city of Yazd, where I used photo documentation, sketching and taking notes as my main method of gathering information about takht.

This thesis is divided into two parts, the first part consists of literature review on philosophical inquiries related to other-spaces, for instance philosopher and social theorist Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia. The review of this theory provides insight into creating a space within a contemporary interior similar to the idea of Foucault, where he describes worlds within worlds. I aim to achieve this quality by mixing my cultures of origin, Iran and place of residence, Finland.

The literature review continues on by leaning on the psychological associations related to couch-rug composition, a space that is grounding and open, Inspired by the romanticism and connotations related to the tales of A Thousand and One Nights, rug becoming a vessel of conveyance.

The main focus of the thesis is the artistic portion which includes technical and practical findings and explorations which lead to the production of the final furniture, the written content and research is there to support and explain my artistic aspirations and goals. The design process and testing lead to developing a structural system for the furniture through methods used within the Iranian and Finnish craft and design context.

This thesis project’s emphasis is on joining the strong traditions and theoretical procedures applied within the realm of design and architecture of the two countries. The body of the furniture is put together by combining the design approach in creation of Persian gardens with the Finnish bent plywood system used within the interior architecture. The design of the rug is also a fusion of the Finnish ryijy and Iranian gabbeh. Through several iterations, the final prototype consists of solid birch furniture and the rug is made of natural wool yarns. The motivation and goal of this project is to design a comfortable, warm place for individual or social use.

The purpose of the thesis is to explore the experiential qualities of furniture/rug duo as a space, potentially, slower pace of life. The thesis inquiry consists of research and literature review of similar settings working as a vessel for an individual therapeutic space or platform of daydreaming. The goal of the project is to introduce and redesign a type of furniture with these purposes for contemporary interiors.