Architects Stephanie Davidson and Georg Rafailidis of Berlin practice Touchy-Feely have designed heated protrusions from a wall to assist in muscle-tension relief.
The rounded, plaster forms can be incorporated into a plastered wall surface at any height and are heated to body temperature from behind.
Developed in collaboration with massage therapists, the protrusions can be used to manipulate trigger points in parts of the the body such as shoulders, neck and knees.
This technique is used in the treatment of ailments such as nausea, fatigue and addiction.
“The mouldings encourage heightened, physical interactions between bodies and architectural surfaces,” say the designers.
Touchy-Feely is a branch of Davidson Rafailidis architects. Here’s some more information from them:
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Trigger Point Mouldings, Stephanie Davidson & Georg Rafailidis / Touchy-Feely
touchy-feely.net
Trigger Point Mouldings are rounded fibrous plaster forms that can be integrated into a wall surface. As suggestive protrusions, the mouldings encourage heightened, physical interactions between bodies and architectural surfaces, and suggest that buildings can perform, or intimate towards the necessary work of massage therapists. Heating elements inserted into the backs of the plaster protrusions warm the forms to body temperature and assist in muscle tension relief. As warmed wall areas, the protrusions create a gentle threshold between body and building.
Massage therapists commonly work to access and manipulate multiple trigger points in the body found in the shoulders, neck, knees, etc as a means of aiding such diverse ailments as nausea, quitting smoking, colds, fatigue, sexual problems, etc. Touchy-Feely worked in consultation with massage therapists to develop forms of an appropriate depth and shape to facilitate self-trigger point massage. The mouldings can be installed easily into any new or existing drywall or plastered wall surface at any desired height or in any density/pattern.
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Posted by Rose Etherington
May 27th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
The white wall looks like it would be more interesting a few months after continued use. Especially in the relief of sexual ailments…
May 27th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
DEAR DEZEEN,
Shouldn’t you credit the models in the photos?
May 28th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Hmm, are you kidding me? Talk about a waste of time and money. I absolutely guarantee anyone that rubbing up against the model in the photos will do so much more for you than rubbing up against the wall!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:28 am
sexu-wall seduction
May 28th, 2009 at 7:05 am
makes me think of the big nipples (suck on coathanger) of Droog for the bathroom
May 28th, 2009 at 7:41 am
do the mouldings grow bigger?
May 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
3rd picture is kind of cool !
May 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am
who’s the babe?
May 28th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I would have made them in different lengths for different bodies to attend for different kinds of problems.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
like the concept! interaction btw architectur and humen… ok nobody will really rub himself against a wall… otherwise i would wonder about that guy… but if you are encouraged to touch the “house” you will have another relation (psychologically) to it… you feel more connected imho… little things like this can make the people value the architecture more
May 28th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Making conceptual art functional??
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/arts/design/13cree.html
May 29th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Architectural fetishism, it really looks like a nipple… who would ever want to touch a wall if not an architect to feel it’s texture???
May 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I would use it all the time.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
“Phalictecture” or “Boobstecture” + nice babe at the same place displays tension and makes sense.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Polly filler
May 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am
LOL I love it! now everyone will be talking to the walls and taking them more seriously ! finally!
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
the opposite of the Glory Hole.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Ok, funny, but there is a self massage for reffered pain from trigger points (tight knots and bands in the muscles) that you can do against a wall using small balls like tennis balls or lacrose balls. Very helpful for chronic pain and sports injuries. http://www.triggerpointbook.com