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.

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