ash stephens provides meditative sounds with singing bowl

ash stephens provides meditative sounds with singing bowl
all images courtesy of ash stephens

ash stephens, an industrial design student at victoria university in new zealand, has reinvented the tibetan gong for today’s society by changing how users interact with it. the project, called ‘singing bowl,’ reflects the instruments primarily used during meditation in buddhist cultures, where they are played by gently rubbing the mallet around the container’s edge as it sits in the palm of one’s hand. this motion creates a series of vibrations that produce soothing sounds.

the notion that any sacred item must be risen off the ground is replicated here, with the basin itself being supported on stilts. the kwila block, manually dressed and CNC-routered to allow the electronics to fit securely within, is separated from the legs with threaded steel rods surrounded by brass tubes. the entire structure is strengthened with brass cross-bracing and a felt-detailed leg ends to visually connect with the same material elements that decorate the resting surface above. the hand-crafted aesthetic is meant to create a cohesive connection with the pot as its physical impurities celebrated, not concealed.

the lathed metal mechanism is finished to link with the hand-crafted aesthetic of the bowl

the innovation of the object is exhibited as users begin a series of actions. the sequence begins by setting the bowl on the turntable and adjusting the wooden mallet so it rests against the rim. using motorized parts within the block, rotation is initiated when the vertical metal mechanism protruding out of the top of the construct in pressed downward. this is made up of five manually-lathed pieces, all working together to give the mallet the ability to easily adjust in both height and angle. as it spins at a constant pressure and speed against the stick, the bowl begins to sing amongst its environment where the user is free to unwind until they feel rejuvenated. the amount of vibration, and therefore the volume of sound, is determined by the level of pressure applied by the user between the perimeter of the dish and the mallet. pushing down on the same apparatus that started the sequence also stops the motor, instigating a rich gong that symbolizes the end of the relaxation period in traditional practice.

the user adjusts the height and angle of the mallet so it rests against the bowls’ edge

when the brass stem is pressed downward the turntable motor is initiated

brass tubes surround steel threads to create the illusion that the kwila block is floating

the legs are finished with felt caps to link with elements of the same material used above

alloy rods are threaded in to each leg – both a functional and aesthetic consideration

a plan view of the product shows the symmetry and proportions of the design

a front elevation shows the arrangement and proportions of the different elements

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.