Resting Topographies

The act of resting and sleeping is inseparable in the course of a day in the human body. However, the rigidity of sleep schedules and rest practices positions the bed solely as a utilitarian object, stripping it of its potential as a space for multifaceted recreational activities. The modernisation of European cities resulted in the demand for bodies to act according to the working hours of the machine. Sleeping is turned into a fixed-hours act limited to the realm of the domestic setting. A sleeping body in public is perceived as a body out of place, associated with a lack of willpower, exposing moral or economic failure.

The movie “Gerontophilia” explores the intimate connection of the two protagonists- a young caretaker and an older patient from a care facility. The progression of their feelings is interconnected with the development of spaces they occupy together- in particular, the places where they find rest, often bedrooms, as the older character is conditioned to the frequent necessity to repose. Each change in location mirrors a shift in the characters’ intimacy, illustrating how the bed functions as a symbol of emotional and physical connection.

The project seeks to set these neglected aspects of the bed into discourse. Drawing inspiration from the movie and noticing a parallel with “The Symposium” of Plato, translating into “drinking together”, where young and old bodies gather for a shared moment of reflection on life and love, all while lying down next to each other, reveals the qualities that the project is striving to bring out.

The design proposal shifts from rigid, institutional layouts to more flexible, tactile environments that encourage intimacy and connection.

The spaces are shaped by the topographical features that lay beneath; varying surfaces and textures offer different feels to the laying body, from harder to softer materials, according to the needs of the passersby. Hanging curtains mediate between the ground and the ceiling, offering different layers of intimacy and viewing points.

Ultimately, the project reimagines the bed as a larger, sensory-rich landscape rather than a singular, freestanding individual object, evoking physical comfort and emotional connection for all bodies.

Project by: Gianna Pirovino, Nina Gautschi, Maria Karaivanova, Todor Rusev

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Dafni Retzepi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Lisa Maillard, Luis Úrculo, Pol Esteve Castelló, He Shen

Design Studio: Autumn 2024