As co-designer of the low-stimulus space at KASK & Conservatorium, I sought to answer the question: are silence and sitting still enough to find peace? In a world that constantly demands our attention, de-stimulation has often become a passive act, whereas our bodies actually call for a conscious, physical reconnection. For my graduation project, I translated this vision into an object that brings the sensory experience to the whole body: the Tinteltrap.

The Tinteltrap is a sensory instrument in the form of a staircase, where each step features a unique surface and texture. The design is rooted in the philosophy of homo ludens (man the player) and a return to our primitive sense of touch. Whereas in daily life our feet are often trapped in thick soles on flat tarmac, the Tinteltrap invites us to take off our shoes and ‘feel’ the world again.

Through various stimuli, ranging from soft and springy to rough and stimulating, the staircase offers an accessible form of sensory regulation. Climbing the steps activates the senses and improves proprioception (body awareness). The Tinteltrap is thus not merely a functional object, but a plea for active sensory stimulation: tranquillity that does not arise from avoiding stimuli, but from the deliberate reactivation of the body.