Rhizome

Modular shelving system for hydrophobic plant lovers

January - February 2024

Inspiration

Fall 2023 —I frequently rearranged my coffee tables to offer my plants varied light, placement, and regular watering

So, I wanted to build a shelf that invited frequent and varied interaction — it would be modular, irrigation-friendly, and lustrous

Over 8 weeks, I designed and fabricated a modular aluminum shelf with load-bearing supports and eight interchangeable attachments for multifunctional use

Process + book

January 2024 —I documented my process in Adobe InDesign to create my process book

Rhino

I put myself through a 3d bootcamp to learn CAD in Rhino.

Sketching

The first sketches on paper lacked depth and clarity.

I also used AI tools, such as this sketch-to-image model in Stable Diffusion, to ideate.

My pencil started keeping the pace of my ideas

First scale prototype

Second scale prototype

Reconsidering the proportions of the module + repeating the geometries until they felt accurate without a grid

I modified dimensions for square faces and built a miniature model in acrylic so I could work while traveling.

I worked in context whenever I could, whether at home or away

Showcase

March 5 —Displaying the shelf and inviting feedback from peers and faculty.

Next for Rhizome

(1) Explore more use cases with new attachments

(2) Create a custom indoor irrigation system as a partner to this shelf, bringing the delight of a hose to the apartment

(1) Experiment with wood dowels by isolating the 3d print to the locus of attachment