Joelle Rose

'INTRAOSSEOUS'
The semester-long project conceptualises a dystopian world in which humans must resort to stripping down to their bones in order to relieve themselves of food-decision paralysis. As expained in the manifesto; ‘we must standardise the survival process for our own sanity so we can get our freedom and time back’, a remedy was introduced.

In order to preserve the skeleton, the Calcium Cocoon, a synthetic skin, is applied to the body. Whilst protecting and strengthening the bone from the exterior environment, the apparatus also provides intraosseous Calcium feedings to the interior bone marrow, ensuring a dense porosity is maintained.

The project explores the question, ‘how can spatial design facilitate feedings to preserve future skeletal bodies in a world relieved of food superabundance and its subsequent paralysis?’ through a transformative speculative design intervention. The site, ‘We are Bone HQ’, facilitates a process of metamorphosis, stripping the body down to just its bone - the burdensome act of eating and digestion as a means for survival now an ancient ritual of the past.

The space imagines this transitory process across 3 levels, from first entry as a fully grown human, to the exploration of the new body and consciousness as we know it.

1 - Human System Removal:
First, the human body undergoes the removal of the Integumentary system: skin, nerves, muscles + organs. DNA and consciousness is then extracted for infusion into the synthetic skin.

2 - Preservation:
In its skeletal state, the body travels upstairs to recieve its synthetic skin from the Calcium Cocoon. The apparatus embalms the bones via a vacuum pump mechanism.

3 - Curing + Exploration:
The freshly preserved body makes its way down to the ground floor to adjust and acclimatise to its new state. Bodies are encouraged to explore the new sensations of movement, and celebrate their newfound freedom, with stress and worry a memory of the past.

We are Bone HQ' is situated in a temporary scaffolding structure, of which has also been stripped down to its skeleton. The geometric scaffolding is interrupted by the organic, stretched bone-like forms wrapping onto the structure, almost like a second skin.

The structure wraps itself around the existing scaffolding site, resembling the porous bone interior of which the apparatus feeds. Hosting bi-annual feeding ceremonies, the HQ enables the process of transmutation from fully grown human to its newest rendition; bone.

The task of shopping for food has become overwhelming, where you end up buying nothing at all- we ultimately need less choice, not more. The plenitude of choice induces a paralysis. “Freedom from choice eventually becomes a tyranny of choice” (The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less Barry Schwartz, 2004). Whilst having a plethora of choice seems like it would be a freeing, positive evolution, it actually leads to decision fatigue, making the entire experience burdensome.

This results in isolation, disconnect and detachment; the simple relationship between humans + food has been over-complicated with the destructive nature of the food industry and economic gain at the core.

Though curing the decision paralysis, 'Intraosseous' visualises a future of freedom, a future of relief. However, this newfound freedom comes with a loss- we are at the same time stripped of everything that makes us unique: a loss of self-expression, individuality, identity, culture, and all the joys associated with food.