Description:

The sensation of a warm shower is therapeutic and reinvigorating. After showering, a person's heated body is dripping with warm water. However, the body quickly loses this warmth as the heat evaporates. This heat loss results in a person feeling chilly and uneasy, leading many to dread showering in cooler months.

Rather than just being unpleasant, these temperature changes can lead to illness in older adults, especially when they struggle to keep warm after bathing. Moreover, older adults, who are often on limited budgets, can seldom afford to adequately heat their homes.

Following a user-centred design approach, I sought to understand older adults' needs. User interviews showed that drying with a towel inside the shower was a compromise to keep warm in cooler months. Additionally, the shower walls were often used for support when showering and drying. The cold's emotional toll on older adults' bathing experiences moved me. This discomfort was more than physical; it was a feeling of unease that lingered long after the shower. I felt a profound empathy for those in this situation. Everyone, regardless of circumstance, deserves a comfortable bathing experience.

I looked to excess heat sources to maximise warmth and minimise costs to the user. AIRY uses the warm shower air to dry older adults comfortably within the shower. Its minimalistic design features a convex perch mounted to the shower wall. This form fills the space between the back of the thighs and the wall, providing a supportive pause for the user.

AIRY uses water-rated fans to draw in the warm shower air and an external fresh air source. A heat exchanger housed by an acrylic shell recycles the air streams to remove health-compromising moisture. The condensed water drips out the bottom while the fresh, warm air blows through the cedar slats. A dial at hand height allows users to adjust the airflow from a gentle breeze to targeted drying. This process removes water from the body quickly. Users maintain warmth, reducing the risk of shock when leaving the bathroom.

When it comes to heating solutions, AIRY stands out for its cost-effectiveness. Under-floor heating and radiators can be costly and heat up slowly. Conversely, AIRY offers older adults immediate economical warmth when they need it the most. This efficiency ensures their comfort and helps them save on energy bills. With AIRY, older adults enjoy their soothing bathing experience for longer.