Disclaimer: This project was created as part of a university research assignment and is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a real-world or commercial piece and was not developed for sale or public use.

This project is called Angry God’s. We were tasked to ‘research a ‘hidden’ cultural value system related to an event/ disaster/tradition/history/ everyday practise. Tell a story that links the human, non-human, and/or spiritual aspects of your cultural context.’

First Project on my MA Global Design Course.

I designed a natural filtration system that uses plant’s, mussel’s and sediment to filter water.

I drew upon previous research on mussels and how effective they are at cleaning water. (research is found in project named ‘Oxybenzone’).

Image from ‘Tomorrows world’

I designed them in the shape of a Lotus flower. In Hinduism, the lotus represents spiritual enlightenment, beauty, fertility, purity, prosperity and eternity. It is said that there’s a lotus flower in every Hindu’s heart, and that when this lotus blooms, the person achieves enlightenment. The lotus is also an important symbol in the Hindu tantric tradition. 

Why Copper?

More than 99.9% of E. coli microbes are killed after just 1–2 hours on copper. On stainless steel surfaces, the microbes can survive for weeks, In addition Copper is believed to be auspicious especially in Hindu civilization, therefore it has been in practice since the beginning of civilization. For almost 11,000 years there are known information about its use in different forms from Hindus to Egyptians. It is believed that copper use minimises the vastu dosha.(Hindu Creed 2023) Hindu Creed explains that copper has long been intertwined with the cultural and spiritual fabric of India. The significance of copper in ancient Hindu scriptures is notable, especially in the Vedic era. One can trace mentions of copper back to the Rigveda, where it was referred to as ‘Tamra’. Over time, as society evolved, copper became an essential part of religious ceremonies, domestic life, and monumental architecture.(Hindu Creed 2023).

Why Plant’s?

The water flows under and through the floating water plants. In the process, harmful substances and pathogens are reduced by the root balls and bacteria. Thanks to this principle, green filter systems are economical and virtually maintenance-free. Chemical additives are also unnecessary.(Karcher 2023)