2021
2026

Steambloom

Leia Ponsiglione

Leia Ponsiglione

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

Steambloom

Leia Ponsiglione

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

Steambloom

Leia Ponsiglione

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

The bathroom is one of the few spaces where we are truly alone, yet its harsh lighting and noisy ventilation impede the circadian rhythm. Steambloom reimagines this overlooked ritual by bringing ancient wisdom and discarded materials back to life. A bioluminescent moss sconce that attaches directly to tile walls with suction cups, Steambloom uses shower steam to trigger a gradual, natural glow, transforming humidity, typically treated as a problem, into a calming source of illumination. Living sphagnum moss, nature's oldest air purifier, passively filters the air while eucalyptus-infused vapor engages the senses. Soft light projections from the reflective surface cast gentle patterns across the walls, replacing mechanical brightness with atmosphere. The form draws from the Mayan medicine wheel- an ancient framework of balance between natural elements and human wellbeing, reinterpreted here as a responsive, living system. Its skeleton is built from salvaged ventilation ducts, cut and bent into a frame that channels light through the carved face pattern and outward into the space. By pairing biomaterials with adaptive reuse, the oldest air purifier meets reclaimed ventilation ducts, and a centuries-old philosophy of balance quietly reshapes a modern daily ritual. The shower becomes less a utility and more a moment of rest, reflection, and recovery.

Steambloom