I have moved to a crowded area and there are no pets allowed. I did not realize before how important it is to be able to touch something that appreciates your touch. In my apartment there is nothing like this.
It is a human quality that we
like, and even need, to touch objects that make
us feel kind or loved/loving. My project focuses on creating a versatile
material interface
that would speak to this need.
Some precedents I looked at while developing my concept were the “Fur Cup”
of Meret Oppenheim (1936) as well as the properties of opal and amber.
The architectural element that I began to work with (but soon needed to modify) was the lawn. Lawns and green areas are sites that invite tactile pleasure but also require a degree of
delicacy and care. I wanted to make a more widely deployable material that could respond more immediately to “good touch” yet still needed to be cared for.