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
Ferrari Luce redefines electric performance through tactile design

Daily Signals

Ferrari Luce redefines electric performance through tactile design

Ferrari has unveiled the interior and interface of its first fully electric sports car, the Ferrari Luce.
Mobility : Luxury : Design
Japan cancels cherry blossom festival amid overtourism pressures

Daily Signals

Japan cancels cherry blossom festival amid overtourism pressures

A major cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji has been cancelled after authorities warned that tourism pressures were tipping into a civic crisis.
Travel & Hospitality : Tourism : Overtourism
Stat: How different generations are really using AI

Daily Signals

Stat: How different generations are really using AI

A new survey of 3,000 Americans by Edubrain reveals Millennials are the most avid users of AI, with 37% using it daily, compared to 25% o...
Technology : AI : Statistic
Under Armour backs the rise of the women’s sports economy

Daily Signals

Under Armour backs the rise of the women’s sports economy

American athletic brand Under Armour has unveiled Click Clack: The Next Era, a new campaign reimagining its original Click-Clack football advert fr...
Sport : Womens Sports : Football
Levi’s launches Wear Longer Project to teach Gen Z clothing repair skills

Daily Signals

Levi’s launches Wear Longer Project to teach Gen Z clothing repair skills

Levi’s has unveiled the Wear Longer Project, a new education initiative designed to equip young people with practical skills to repair, refresh and...
Sustainability : Fashion : Levis
Stat: Britain’s stiff upper lip still shapes modern masculinity

Daily Signals

Stat: Britain’s stiff upper lip still shapes modern masculinity

A new YouGov study of 4,403 UK adults highlights how attitudes to crying are still deeply gendered in Britain.
Health & Wellness : Masculinity : Statistic
Chevrolet revives its ‘See the USA’ jingle to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial

Daily Signals

Chevrolet revives its ‘See the USA’ jingle to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial

As the US celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, Chevrolet is inviting Americans to hit the road with a new ad campaign that reimagines its icon...
Mobility : Branding : Advertising
How Spotify’s book strategy signals the return of intellectual culture

Daily Signals

How Spotify’s book strategy signals the return of intellectual culture

Audio streaming app Spotify is deepening its push into publishing with two updates designed to make reading more fluid across formats.
Spotify : Books : Technology
Stat: Why skill investment is lagging behind AI ambition in the workplace

Daily Signals

Stat: Why skill investment is lagging behind AI ambition in the workplace

Almost three-quarters (74%) of businesses say they are prioritising investment in technology, data and platforms over spending on workforce develop...
Technology : AI : Statistic
Why James Turrell is designing for awe in an age of attention fatigue

Daily Signals

Why James Turrell is designing for awe in an age of attention fatigue

ARoS Museum of Art in Aarhus will unveil As Seen Below on 19 June 2026, the largest Skyspace artist James Turrell has ever created within a museum ...
Design : Architecture : Art
You have 0 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN