Musical architecture

06 : 04 : 2015 Penda : The Soundwave : Soundscapes

China – Creative architecture studio Penda has created The Soundwave, an interactive space celebrating architecture, music and lighting.

  • Inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote ‘Music is liquid architecture; architecture is frozen music’
  • Interactive space activated by engagement and movements
The Soundwave by Penda, China The Soundwave by Penda, China
The Soundwave by Penda, China The Soundwave by Penda, China
The Soundwave by Penda, China The Soundwave by Penda, China
The Soundwave by Penda, China The Soundwave by Penda, China

The Soundwave comes to life through traditional Chinese music and lights, which are activated when individuals explore the site. The movement and music mirror one another with varying levels of volume and compositions depending on the nature of the interaction.  Made up of 500 fins of brightly coloured perforated purple steel, the installation creates a mini-metropolis in a public square in Xiangyang, China. The varying heights and depths of the pillars parallel the peaks and troughs of a graphic equalizer that shifts and flows based on the crescendos and diminuendos of a piece of music. ‘Music, rhythm and dance, in combination with the surrounding landscape, were the main parameters shaping The Soundwave,’ explains the studio.

The Big Picture: Sound can be used as a key driver when creating an interactive space. Read our Soundscapes macrotrend for further insight.

Discover More Daily Signals
The Trend:  The New Age of Discovery

Daily Signals

The Trend:  The New Age of Discovery

Where can consumers still find newness amid algorithm fatigue, ad blockers and saturated content platforms? Part of the answer lies in gatekeeping ...
Technology : Discovery : Retail
The Big Idea: The Future of  Dating Apps

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: The Future of Dating Apps

Hinge is the ‘designed to be deleted’ dating app now turning to real-life connections to tackle Gen Z loneliness. The Future Laboratory spoke to pr...
Technology : Dating Apps : Hinge
The Campaign: Why Apple leaned into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Daily Signals

The Campaign: Why Apple leaned into artisanal charm for 2025 festive push

Apple’s 2025 Christmas campaign A Critter Carol puts human craftsmanship front and centre.
Technology : Advertising & Branding : Apple
The Viewpoint: Cyberchondria and Its Cure

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Cyberchondria and Its Cure

The democratisation of medical knowledge – and the spread of fake news – has opened the doors to a new kind of cyberchondria. Jay Topham, co-founde...
Technology : Cyberchondria : Health
The Space: Koibird’s London store mixes digital and physical

Daily Signals

The Space: Koibird’s London store mixes digital and physical

A new wave of designers is bridging the virtual chaos of gaming realms and extended reality with the tactile authenticity of human craft.  
Technology : Retail : Design
Download the Future Forecast 2026 report

Daily Signals

Download the Future Forecast 2026 report

Now that you know what shaped 2025, discover what’s next.
Future Forecast
How Marcin Rusak and Perrier-Jouët translated plant life into sonic installations at Design Miami 2025

Daily Signals

How Marcin Rusak and Perrier-Jouët translated plant life into sonic installations at Design Miami 2025

At Design Miami 2025, designer Marcin Rusak partnered with champagne house Perrier-Jouët to translate the hidden life of plants into a sculptural, ...
Design : Luxury : Drink
Why Myndstream and Mayo Clinic believe music is the future of medicine

Daily Signals

Why Myndstream and Mayo Clinic believe music is the future of medicine

Global wellness music brand Myndstream has partnered with Mayo Clinic to explore the clinical potential of functional music in healthcare.
Health : Music : Technology
Stat: US sports fans show high engagement across travel, gaming and media

Daily Signals

Stat: US sports fans show high engagement across travel, gaming and media

According to GWI’s latest Global Fan Study, 62% of US sports fans are more likely to take three to four international trips per year compared with ...
Sports : Travel : Statistic
How new Evil Ray suncare brand taps the unhinged humour opportunity

Daily Signals

How new Evil Ray suncare brand taps the unhinged humour opportunity

Australian creative agency Pembleton has unveiled Evil Ray, a bold new sunscreen brand designed in collaboration with iconic Australian artist Reg ...
Beauty : Healthcare : Sunscreen
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN