Wanderland
"Wandering is a phenomenon whereby patients with Alzheimer experience a strong urge to walk, often without a purpose, or at least a real destination. For this reason sometimes their destination, as well as the reason for reaching it, lies in their personal view of reality."
Background
A diorama, a type of box without a ceiling and mirrors on its walls, was made using the behavior of wandering that affects Alzheimer's patients in an effort to accurately recreate a scenario associated with this syndrome. The project attempts to depict this phenomenon by simulating a mental landscape at a scale of 1:100.
The scenario described is an organic environment with varying-height mountainous forms; it offers an infinite landscape with pathways similar to the Arizona Canyons thanks to the use of mirrors. Additionally, there are black portals that create a continuous and defined pathway that directs the Alzheimer's patients in their wanderings without a clear destination. Furthermore the territory's coloration, which is more intense in the smallest spaces, emphasize these paths.
There are benches outside this path that are modeled after Bruno Munari's "Chair for very short visits," on which you can't sit comfortably. This is done to emphasize the patients' constant walking during their wandering moments.
Project overview
Academic Project: Politecnico di Milano - Bachelor degree
Duration: 1 month
Design Team: Nina Zanarelli, Chiara Corino, Luca Franzoi