ACTIVE WALL. Design of elements organizing the space for calisthenic exercises.

Dobrawa Bies

15 of December '21

ACTIVE WALL project in the interior of an apartment

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{Jan Matejko}, a graduate of the Faculty of Interior Design at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, is the author of ACTIVE WALL. The author's design of elements with accessories, organizing the space for calisthenic exercises, is a simple and aesthetic system of dividing a selected interior, such as an apartment, allowing for general training.

ACTIVE WALL is a master's diploma project entitled Elements organizing the space for calisthenic exercises, created at the Faculty of Interior Design of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, under the direction of Dr. Marek Blazucki prof. of the Academy of Fine Arts and assistant Anna Markowska. In creating ACTIVE WALL, the author also collaborated with Dawid Kisiel - a specialist in general and medical training, a doctoral student at the Academy of Physical Education in Krakow and a teaching fellow at the Rzeszow University of Technology.

The ACTIVE WALL project was created as a master's thesis

calisthenics

It seems obvious that practicing sports, or any human physical activity, is a health-promoting activity. However, as in every aspect of life, one should know moderation in what and in what form one undertakes. Undoubtedly, the tools with which we will use physical activity are important in this case. Nowadays, there are many opportunities for physical activity, both from the recreational one to practicing competitive sports, and the only discipline that is the basis for all of them is calisthenics; it is not a new field in sports, on the contrary, it is one of the oldest disciplines, it is a training method using the load of one's own body, as well as a methodology of functional training, which is a combination of the possibilities of strength and beauty of the human body, it is a continuous psychomotor development. However, for the most part, the practice of sports involves the need to use generally available forms of recreation in public spaces, which has become impossible in the recent period of the prevailing pandemic, especially the announced lockdowns. According to my observations, this has created a new need to bring training or basic physical activity into personal space. Therefore, in my work, I attempted to explore the area of general training, with a particular focus on calisthenics. The consequence of which, was the design of a partition and other organizing elements of the space, which enables the performance of general development training and can be adapted to individual needs," explains Kinga Duda-Kisiel.

ACTIVE WALL is a modular partition wall and mobile module for exercise

active wall

The design work of the Academy of Fine Arts graduate presents interior design elements in the form of a modular partition wall created from wooden panels, together with a mobile module for general exercise. The project is a system through which every person can take care of their physical fitness. Elements of the openwork exercise partition can be used both in the limited cubic space of the home, newly constructed residential buildings and public facilities.

The system allows independent, easy installation

An aspect that will satisfy the need of the market especially for sports and construction is the use of an exercise wall that easily allows self-assembly, as it has a simple scheme. Also, the possibility of adjusting its width and height to an individual area, which solves the problem of carrying out a general renovation for the planned division of space, the author adds.

A practical and aesthetic element of the interior

The work consists of components such as exotic wood panels, a mobile module, a stainless steel top and bottom rail. Other components include mounting screws and rubber washers, which are designed to prevent rubbing and allow the materials to possibly work.

In the design, I included a material, so far not used in residential interiors on a wider scale - carbon (carbon fiber), from which the mobile exercise module is created. Given its strength, lightness, friendly reception to the touch and juxtaposition with the uniqueness of the exotic wood pattern, it makes the wall a unique element of the composition," Kinga explains.

The mobile exercise module is made of carbon

training adapted to everyone

The versatility of the ACTIVE WALL's form, consisting in the possibility of any selection of its individual elements, their independent composition and adaptation to an individual calisthenic exercise program, allows the system to be used in a personalized way.

The training function developed in cooperation with a medical training specialist, who assisted the project by creating an original program of general development training using the presented wall, will be available in the mobile application, as well as at home, without the need to adapt a large space, the designer adds.

The set of exercises was developed in cooperation with a medical training specialist

Interview with Kinga Duda-Kisiel

Dobrawa Bies: What were your design inspirations?

Kinga Duda-Kisiel: I am fascinated by the minimalist, light, subtle and balanced form, the shape of which results primarily from the functional function, defined as the optimal minimum. I call this phenomenon pure design. Every time I approach a design, I study certain conditions, functions and their meaning in space. I think this definition can be the main tool by which stripped-down applied art can take an innovative direction. I am also interested in new material technology - new fabrication techniques are also extremely important, given their new applications.

ACTIVE WALL project, design exploration (2019/2020)

When starting the design search, the first thing to do was to ask as many questions as possible about the issues relating to the topic. One of them was: can everyday space be one of the key factors affecting our form and fitness? I attempted to answer the above question in my search, using various means of expression: sketches in mixed techniques, pencil drawings, 3D models and inspiration from new techniques from the world of technology. On the other hand, when looking for materials, I assumed that the project should consist primarily of natural, ecological raw material, hence the use of exotic wood. The issue of human physiology and its inseparability from nature plays an important element in this case.

Dobrawa: What were your priorities? How does ACTIVE WALL actually "work"?

Kinga: The main design assumption was to introducean interior design element with a health-promoting function. The functional premise, on the other hand, is the need for general fitness arising from fundamental aspects of life. The goal was to strive for an optimal configuration of the model, so that it could fulfill its function in any space, both private and public.

The active wall functions as a multifaceted adaptation of space for functional training

The formulated partition of wooden panels creates division, introduces rhythm and organizes the space. Quite universal in terms of style, the composition of elements can be incorporated into almost any interior. It is not so competitive with other interior elements, by using the method of limiting the shape to the minimum functional needs. The openwork of the partition introduces light, thus softening the area of the divided space. The mobile element is a form made of carbon. In fact, the entire form resembles a line drawn through the space, enclosed in a perimeter, with a given optimal thickness. This shape and its dimension allow the module to be handy to hold. The shape of the element is the result of an extensive study of the dimensions and distances between the juxtaposed elements of the premise.

Each individual panel is assembled by sliding it into the rail sequentially and fixed based on the principle of tongue-and-groove assembly. It has two positioning options by turning it bottom side up, thus gaining the ability to diversify the pattern that is formed. It is incorporated into a steel rail, which acts as a locking device and attaches the whole to the ceiling and the ground. The formed wall can be formed to any length, and thus can adapt to a specific space. Such a possibility is provided by a simple solution, which is a diagram placed on the rail. It explains the principle of installation and its possible cutting to the correct length.

ACTIVE WALL project, mounting

The active wall acts as a multifaceted adaptation of the space for functional training, with bilateral use. The installation method of the mobile module is arbitrary, and thus determines the training functions. It is clear that during the selection of exercises, the individual physical predisposition of a person should be taken into account first of all, due to the various indispositions caused by the condition of the health condition. For this reason, the designed facility has been adapted accordingly to the possibility of performing an infinite number of general development exercises on it, with different levels of difficulty. The vast majority of exercises and forms of training depend on the creativity of the exercising person. Exercises that activate the muscles of the trunk stabilizers have a beneficial effect on getting rid of back pain (increasing the efficiency of human motor qualities, i.e.: speed, strength, endurance, motor coordination, flexibility). Another benefit is the improvement of the silhouette of the trainee (gaining muscle mass while reducing body fat). Individual universal elements with a minimalist form, are designed to organize and organize the space, as well as become an excuse to: "not to deny yourself a workout".

exercise holders

Dobrawa: Who can be users of the ACTIVE WALL?

Kinga: The product is aimed at any person who is planning to take steps to improve health and desire for better well-being, or for those looking for space-sharing solutions without necessarily using workout functions.
I sincerely hope that this project will contribute at least to some extent to providing conditions and expanding the offer for more widespread physical activity at every stage of life, starting from childhood andyouth (physical activity at every stage of upbringing and education) through adulthood (reconciling physical activity with work and family life) and into old age (physical activity as an extension of the health and social activity of the elderly). ACTIVE WALL also takes into account people with moderate disabilities, who can exercise under the supervision of a caregiver or specialist.

Dobrawa: At what stage is the project? Do you have plans for production?

Kinga: Every part of the project has been designed in detail and carefully prepared. In addition to the development of a set of exercises, a preliminary design of the application and the company's visual identity was made. The idea has been worked out in detail in terms of technology - the selection of optimal materials and their justification, the selection of appropriate technologies for the production of the project, preliminary arrangements with subcontractor companies have already been established. Innovation at the world level of the project in question has been established on the basis of a patent application to the Polish Patent and Trademark Office, which confirmed about the highest level of novelty. The project is currently at the second level of technological readiness according to the TRL scale. Yes, I am planning production, while at present the fact whether the project will be subsidized has not yet been decided.

ACTIVE WALL project is an active exercise wall

Dobrawa: Do you think good design can contribute to changing the lives of its recipients?

Kinga: Of course it can! I believe that we, as part of the space - its users - interact with it, it affects us and we affect it. I see this correlation as something unique, and at the same time natural, developing, and I hope it is an argument for my project being such an example.

Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.