on|sen

The Project „on|sen“ rethinks the traditional shower and turns it into a water wall that can be customised to the user’s preferences. Everyone can gain the opportunity to have a luxurious experience at home and rediscover the play with water. At first glance, this is just a typical wall in an apartment. It has no hardware, no distinguishing features. It blends in and allows the resident to maximise their limited living space.

A transformation occurs when the user places an artifact on the wall. An archaic analogue gesture, placing an object feels empowering - hereby commanding the water to flow forth. The wall is operated through a family of beautiful, minimal artifacts shaped from curved wood, that truly evoke zen.

The form of each artifact creates a specific flow and spa-like quality of water, ranging from a concentrated stream, to a diffused shower, to a strong gush. These artifacts can be placed in unlimited configurations, enabling the user to compose their own unique shower experience.

First thoughts

The project started with the water diary kept in the course.

We observed various interesting gestures and interactions during body cleaning processes in the shower.

In order to learn something new, we freed ourselves from the archetype of the conventional shower and reduced it to its essential components.

different forms of water

different positions

simple gestures to control it

Closer look on gestures and interactions.jpg

As a result, we wetted a surface with a water hose and cut out various simple geometric shapes from thin sheet metal or plastic and held them in the flow to drain the water and give it different qualities

Outlets and Pressure

Of course that was a bit small to really be able to use the „shower“ yet.

We gradually increased the size of the surface and with that the number of outlets to wet it with water.

More outlets means a reduction in water pressure.

We designed pressure-distributing outlets that generate a relatively constant water pressure even when several are used at the same time.

The individual outlets arranged next to each other resulted in a zoning of the area which can be variably adjusted in length.

Material info: every outlet is a PLA 3D Print

different outlets made of 3d printed pla.jpg

Shapes and qualities of Water

We worked on the various water directing shapes and found 3 water qualities that are essentially different.

a shower

a jet

and a gush

First we tested simple structures and forms made of thin sheet metal and plastic.

In the process, we professionalised the water qualities with various iterations of 3D PLA Prints of the shapes.

In order to be able to place the shapes freely on the wall, we decided to embed magnets in the forms and to use a magnetic lacquered surface over which the water can flow.

final Shapes

However, the water should not flow over the entire surface all the time, so we connected each of the outlets to a valve and a sensor. Depending on which zone the shape is moved in, the sensor detects this and opens the respective valve. Water flows.

This allows you to control the position, quality and shape of the water.

sensors and outlets/front of the wall.jpg

outlets connected to the valves/backside.jpg

In order to give the shapes a uniform aesthetic, we decided to mill the lower part from oak wood, which brings a high-quality calm for a new shower experience.

We finished the project by bringing the two parts of every shape together.