Suspended Hugging Unit explores mediated human intimacy
What happens when human intimacy becomes so rare that technology is forced to replace it? The Suspended Hugging Unit (SHU) is a speculative design project developed by Diego Reggiani as a final master thesis project for the Politecnico di Milano, which explores the future of hugging in an increasingly technologically mediated society. The project is in suspended form shibari hammock designed to simulate the emotional and physiological comfort of a human hug, provoking reflection on our relationship with touch, loneliness and emotional dependence on technology.
Hugging is one of the most instinctive forms of human affection. It provides physical, psychological and social benefits, reducing stress and strengthening emotional bonds. Despite its well-known importance, hugging often remains an unconscious gesture that rarely receives the attention it deserves. As digital technologies gradually reshape the way we communicate and relate to each other, physical exchanges are at risk of becoming less frequent and replaced by forms of interaction that prioritize virtual presence over embodied connection.
The Suspended Hugging Unit explores the future of mediated human intimacy | all images courtesy of Diego Reggiani
The structure of the woven rope creates pressure and body restraint
Drawing from the aesthetics, tension and intimate dynamics of trust in the practice of shibari, the Suspended Hugging Unit (SHU) consists of a suspended self-binding hammock designed to recreate the physical sensation of a hug. The artifact was entirely handmade through a crochet process using over 500 meters of rope. Once in the hammock, the body experiences sensations of pressure, restriction, suspension and support, replicating some of the natural dynamics associated with cuddling. Embedded in the woven ropes is a responsive thermal system consisting of heated cords containing shape memory metal wires. Activated through warmth, these internal elements allow the ropes to gently stretch, creating subtle movements that make the structure seem almost alive, as if responding to human presence.
Existing for now we may eventually need it, the SHU project, which was invented designer Diego Reggiani exposes the possibility of reconstructing one of the most instinctive forms of human affection through autonomous technology.
Handmade crocheted hammock made from over 500 meters of rope
The shibari-inspired woven structure is shaped through tension and suspension
