Rituales Para una Acequia is a speculative design piece that imagines a not-so-distant future where water is scarce, arguably the most sacred element for human life. Through diagrams using architectural drawing techniques, I thought about designing furniture for a home and community without traditional indoor plumbing. Residents would obtain water from underground aquifers utilizing a Qanat system. I find it fascinating how water can shape spaces and behaviors, as well as how certain places maintain autonomy over their resources in a world where many of us have to pay for access to water.
Furniture and tools were designed to encourage a mindful interaction with water, placing it at the heart of the home where people gather, much like a watering hole. One of the tools is a low table crafted from Douglas Fir, featuring an inset terracotta basin for handwashing and pouring, with a hole that allows unused water to return to the primary source.
On this table rests a candle/incense dish made from hammered copper, which reflects light and enhances the atmosphere while marking the duration of water usage. This dish also fits into the terracotta basin. Additionally, there is a second copper object resembling a chalice with a wavy spout that functions as a "slow sink." As water is poured into this copper chalice, it flows through the waves of the spout, landing in the terracotta basin for handwashing or pouring.
Lastly, the set is accompanied by two canvas cushions that invite people to gather around the table. All the objects are handmade and feature an organic design language inspired by river rocks and the shapes that water creates as it flows. The materials were selected for their natural origins, performance, and elemental metaphors, creating a harmonious palette of pink, beige, and orange hues.