Overview
Sound/s translates music into physical form, transforming the frequencies, amplitudes, and rhythms of a symphonic composition into a large-scale sculptural facade.
Sound/s is a large-scale relief sculpture integrated into the facade of the Benaroya Symphony Parking Garage. The vertical sculptural forms are parametrically derived from audio, translating frequencies, amplitudes, and symphonic nuances into sculptural rhythm. This process transforms sound into structure, embedding music’s invisible energy into the physical surface of the city.
The audio source, RE|Member by Reena Esmail, Seattle Symphony’s 2021 Artist in Residence, was selected in collaboration with the Seattle Symphony to create a culturally and site-specific connection to the institution. By engaging sound as raw material, the sculpture becomes both a visual echo of the symphony and a sculptural score.
The concept began as a hand sketch exploring the idea of a vibrant vertical soundwave extending across the garage facade. To translate that gesture into a buildable system, the design was developed parametrically in Grasshopper and Rhino 3D. Audio data was analyzed to generate a field of vertical elements whose height, spacing, and color saturation respond to qualities within the composition. The resulting system was fabricated from powder-coated aluminum panels with custom CNC pipe connections, structural mounting plates, and engineered hardware designed for long-term exterior installation.
Sound/s is a large-scale relief sculpture integrated into the facade of the Benaroya Symphony Parking Garage. The vertical sculptural forms are parametrically derived from audio, translating frequencies, amplitudes, and symphonic nuances into sculptural rhythm. This process transforms sound into structure, embedding music’s invisible energy into the physical surface of the city.
The audio source, RE|Member by Reena Esmail, Seattle Symphony’s 2021 Artist in Residence, was selected in collaboration with the Seattle Symphony to create a culturally and site-specific connection to the institution. By engaging sound as raw material, the sculpture becomes both a visual echo of the symphony and a sculptural score.
The concept began as a hand sketch exploring the idea of a vibrant vertical soundwave extending across the garage facade. To translate that gesture into a buildable system, the design was developed parametrically in Grasshopper and Rhino 3D. Audio data was analyzed to generate a field of vertical elements whose height, spacing, and color saturation respond to qualities within the composition. The resulting system was fabricated from powder-coated aluminum panels with custom CNC pipe connections, structural mounting plates, and engineered hardware designed for long-term exterior installation.
Commissioned by: City of Seattle – Office of Arts and Culture
Photography: Jen Au
Location: Seattle Symphony University Parking Garage 1300 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA