Picture this: A Japanese garden, filled with lush bonsai trees and other greenery. Nearby, a tranquil little pond, filled with some vibrant koi fish. Also, a waterfall, emitting the sound of falling water. You aren’t thinking deadlines, appointments, or to-do lists. Your mind is simply at ease. Industrial designer Sasank Gopinathan has infused all of these natural elements into a piece of home furniture: the Dhyan Chaise Lounge Concept , a chaise lounge that evokes a zen garden. And considering how the year has unfolded, we could all use a little more zen.

The Dhyan Chaise Lounge’s modularity comes with three different environmental features to choose from: standard, which allows for storage of books, shelves, or glassware; garden (pictured below), which allows for side planters; and water pond (pictured above), which allows for a shallow pond. The purpose is to evoke that meditative feeling of being immersed in nature and listening to the calming sound of running water.

Inspired by the “form of the Shiva Linga, the Bodhi Tree and Japanese gardens,” Gopinathan said the idea of the chaise was to “create a space where one’s state of mind is at peace.”

The chaise won an A’ Design Award and Competition award in the Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design category for 2019/2020. “For most working people, the daily stress of work is a hassle,” Gopinathan told the design competition. “Sometimes all you want at the end of the day is to relax in a contemplative, meditative environment.” The designer continued, “It is quite apparent upon observation that proximity to nature brings about a more relaxing mindset, and I aimed to bring that into the home in a more intimate way, especially for urban dwellers who lack much contact with nature.”

A chaise lounge that evokes the mindfulness and calm of a zen garden? The design could not have come at a better time.