wash stool

Some old work, from my Art Academy times... seems like ages ago! This was one of my final-year pieces. A little Koshikake or wash stool which can be used in the ritual of bathing, the Japanese way. It was designed to be in a bathing house which was also designed by me.

The idea is to assemble the Koshikake before you use it. This very conscious step enables the user to focus on the experience, concentrating on oneself, become aware of ones own body, allowing the user to almost immediately immerse oneself in the ritual cleansing process, leaving the rest of the world somewhere outside of the bathing room. This goal of drawing the attention away from daily life and towards oneself is further enchained by the nature of the Koshikake. The Koshikake is very close to the ground, which causes the body to be in an almost rolled together form, offering a chance to become extremely aware of its own body. In this position the user is able to wash the entire body with ease, enforcing the feeling of being one with oneself, of pureness, cleanliness and relaxation for body and mind.