Where does the self end and the collective begin?
    

Inspired by the phenomenon of inosculation, where trees merge to share life and resources, this study reimagines plumbing stacks as communal totems within housing. 


As density and the demand for living spaces increase, the Hearth Totem proposes systems that cultivate shared belonging while preserving individuality, balancing connection and autonomy in daily life.



The concealed pipe becomes a visible anatomy of routine and adaptability. Fixed infrastructures organize flow, while movable elements enable flexibility across domestic patterns. Like living systems that exchange nutrients through contact, the architecture circulates energy and care among its inhabitants.