The Nature of the Soundwave Brought Out in a Landscape

Article by Agmarie Calderón Alonso The Soundwave, by Penda, in Xiangyang, Hubei, China. The Soundwave sculpture by Penda Architects at the Myrtle Tree Garden in Xiangyang, China takes your breath away. Made up of 500 purple pillars of varying heights, the installation pays homage to the rising and falling bars of a digital sound visualizer. The Fins, which form the rhythm of the sculpture, are cladd with perforated purple stainless steel panels. Through an electrolytic passivation process (anodized), the panels were colored in a bath of electrolyte and electricity, which keeps the main characteristics of the steel unimpaired and corrosion resistant.

The Soundwave by Penda

How this exercise in creativity came together is just amazing. Escape the chaos of the city and enter a world of sensory experience. To let your imagination go and create something that you never thought possible, now that’s outstanding.

“Music, rhythm and dance in combination with the surrounding landscape were the main parameters shaping The Soundwave”- Chris Precht & Dayong Sun (Penda designers & founders) Realizing that music, art, and nature could coexist, Penda has gone beyond what we knew about landscape and created an interactive space between the city and the Myrtle Tree Garden. This work was inspired by the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote “Music is liquid architecture; architecture is frozen music”. Applying color, vibration, and height has given this site a new perspective into what the future of landscape could become. The future is here, that’s what has been taught since the year 2000 or Y2K arrived, but who taught that could happen within nature? See for yourself how this project does not collide but glazes onto the existing space perfectly, making a beautiful space even more interesting. Detail is Always the Key Detail is key in the execution of this massive idea. By day the reflection of the sun hits the panels and transforms the space by making the appearance of the sculpture different every time. The fins are located in 4 different water ponds which adds a shimmering look to them, including the reflection of the water that adds a play of light. During the night, within the lighting of the fins, the sculpture has a constant image transformation. With the visitors also moving through the plaza, this makes an interesting reaction between the fins and the people. Sound Waves or a City Skyline Creating a transition between city and landscape, this sculpture has the magnificence of becoming an interpretation of a skyline seen at a distance. It is like seeing a miniature city while approaching the installation. This is a genius approach into what the space could be and creates a sense of expectation for the visitors. The way they thought of movement, transitions, and the space itself; understanding the land and the way it is so the installation could be one with it. Connecting land and sound at a different and unique level makes possible this creation, and letting the city “in”, stimulating the senses of color and light, creates a space between nature and humanity, and the possibility of a new and better way of living. Fluidity and form engage nature, people, and sound into one useful space. Becoming interactive with what is already there and pushing the boundaries of what is not naturally part of the space was the experiment. A complex understanding of how land and waves (meaning the sound visualizer) interact to create a public spectacle has been a great match. Bringing the Site to Life This team came up with what one could call an outstanding invention; nature has its own sound, but maximizing its potential to this degree is just brilliant. The scheme cultivates interest not only for the space itself, but also how it became so. The Soundwave comes to life through traditional Chinese music and lights, which are activated when individuals explore the site. Understanding the Meaning Behind the Design One could debate that this idea is crazy, but the more you learn about the understanding behind the “madness”, the making of this project makes more sense. Penda really understood the area, the people visiting, and the city; these three factors help make this wonderful space possible. They have created an interactive space activated by an engaged audience and their movement between the spaces. Penda really understood the area, the people visiting, and the city; these three factors help make this wonderful space possible. They have created an interactive space activated by an engaged audience and their movement between the spaces. By researching this place I have learned that landscape can be anything you can imagine in your mind; it is not just trees and shrubs in some remote place. It is land where you can conceive an idea and develop genuine masterpieces. Penda architects surpassed my expectations on what one could think landscape architecture could be, and brought to life what it should be; the merging of beautiful ideas. Did you like this project? Let us know in the comments below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For The Soundwave:

Project Name: The Soundwave Architects: Penda Project Team: Dayong Sun, Chris Precht, Fei Tang Precht, Yongjian Huang, Zhonghua Tang, Chunlei Zhu, Junfeng Li, Runxin Tang Location: Xiangyang / Hubei / China Type: Public installation, landscape design Size: 5000, 0 sq. Year: 2013-2015 Photo Credits: Xia Zhi Learn more about Penda: Website: www.home-of-penda.com Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Agmarie Calderón Alonso Return to Homepage

Published in Blog