NAUTILUS

IN MEMORIAM Y.P. N.N.

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IN MEMORIAM Y.P. N.N. ✦

BEHIND THE DESIGN

NAUTILUS is room-within-a-room.

Aluminum tubing and acrylic panels form the 4ft x 8ft cube. Plants and recycled astroturf serve as the site’s footprint, offering a botanical environment that permissions users to take breaks and recharge.

The cube is designed to disrupt destructive cognitive-spirals and limbic system stress responses using VR meditation and neuropsychology-based fabrication principles.

NAUTILUS was created in response to the need for students to have a 24/7 non-residential, accessible site for meditation, pauses, brain-breaks, and privacy during high stress moments.

This year, many students have struggled with the weight of navigating academics while engaging in global struggles. According to the UofR’s 2024 National College Health Assessment survey results 35% of respondents screened positively for suicidality and 52.4% for loneliness. Regarding impacts to academic performance, 42% reported stress, 36.1% reported anxiety, 23.1% reported sleep loss, and 25.1% reported depression as negatively impacting their studies. Gleason library is one of the places these negative thought spirals get practical.

As the only library on campus open from 1am-7am, students use the space for urgent late night/early morning/all-nighter grind sessions. Shuttles to residential areas stop running between 2am-6:30am, incentivizing students to remain longer to avoid walking at night or in bad weather.

Designed for collaboration, bathroom stalls are the only option for students using Gleason to have a private moment to themselves.

The result is a high stress zone that makes it hard for students to take short breaks without leaving the area. SO STUDENTS DON’T TAKE THEM.

LET’S REVIEW THE RESEARCH

“BIOPHILIC DESIGN IS NOT ABOUT GREENING OUR BUILDINGS OR SIMPLY INCREASING THEIR AESTHETIC APPEAL THROUGH INSERTING TREES AND SHRUBS. MUCH MORE, IT IS ABOUT HUMANITY’S PLACE IN NATURE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD’S PLACE IN HUMAN SOCIETY.”

Stephen R. Kellert and Judith H. Heerwagen
(Kellert et al., 2008: page vii)

SCIENCE OF BRAIN BREAKS ➺

INSIDE THE NAUTILUS

01

GUIDED MEDITATION VR APP

VR @ UR

SUMMARY: VR supports mental wellbeing!

QUICK FACTS: Approximately 1/4 of the brain is devoted to processing visual information—the visual cortex, filling the bandwidth with engaging visual content helps reduce pain perception.

DATA DEEP DIVES: For case studies on VR and pain reduction look here. For cutting edge overlaps in therapy and VR tools, check this out. For VR and PTSD treatment explore this.

NAUTILUS: A VR headset and cleaning box will be on site for users to enjoy Guided Meditation’s virtual reality app experience inside the cube.

Explore 30+ meditations hours, 21+ meditation focus areas, and 18 virtual environments. VR will be available between the hours of 12pm-5pm.

For all things VR @ UR visit Studio X

02

BIOPHILIA

SUMMARY: Happy trees, happy humans!

QUICK FACTS: People who are surrounded by plant life (real or artificial) experience stress reduction, less depression, and improved productivity.

DATA DEEP DIVES: Read about how nature can 10x your output by increasing productivity, improving concentration, supporting memory retention, and cognition.

NAUTILUS: Plants are under, inside, around and on top of the cube.

03

COLOR THERAPY & SOLIDARITY

SUMMARY: Green goes to your head!

QUICK FACTS: The color green helps reduce stress perception, improves creativity, and promotes health recovery. A sense of community and belonging improve happiness.

DATA DEEP DIVES: Read a history of chromotherapy here. See how the colors around you impact your creativity here and here. See how notes of gratitude and encouragement can boost your mood and longevity.

NAUTILUS: LED lights line the inside of the cube with a remote controller for users to pick the color that best fits their needs and preferences. Sticky notes will be on site for you to leave a note of encouragement to someone else, or your future self.

Generous humans
who advised, reviewed, brainstormed, schlepped, shared, and advocated
along the way!

Thank you for your trust, support, and help. Sine quibus non.

Mentors: STEPHANIE Ashenfelder (Digital Media Studies Director), CAROLYN Gennari (Visiting Assistant Professor of Art), JENNIFER Arbelo (Director of Building & Technology Services), MAURINI Strub (Assistant Dean of Strategy and Planning), CLAUDIA Pietrzak (User Experience and Social Media Manager)