Musical Swings
Detroit, New York, San José, US | Singapore, SG | +
Musical Swings
Lawrence, Indiana, US
The first permanent edition was installed in Lawrence in 2021. In this context, the artwork became an extension of locals’ living rooms, a place for lively exchanges as well as for collective relaxation on an everyday basis. Furthermore, it changed the small town’s ‘drive-thru city’ reputation to a destination in its own right.
Part of
Where
Lawrence, Indiana, USA
Buchheim Museum of Imagination, GER (soon)
Is it available ?
Yes!
Also available as a Touring edition
Just like with humanity, one person alone is a note, but many people is a symphony.
Community member of Lawrence
How it works
- Each swing triggers notes from a classical instruments: piano, guitar, harp and vibraphone. A color code indicates which instrument is played and invites the public to try different seats.
- The interactive soundtrack is inspired by the pendulum. The higher the swing, the higher the note.
- When the swings move together in unison, they create a musical composition through which unique melodies can emerge if participants cooperate.
- The gentle, kinetic quality of the acoustic sounds blends seamlessly into the urban environment.
New design
A new A Frame structure.
Toddler seat, adaptive seats for people with special needs and a 360 seat available.
First host of the permanent edition
« In the past, Lawrence has been known as a drive-through community. You would drive through Lawrence to get to Downtown Indianapolis. We wanted people to come here and stay (…) The Musical Swings, of course, is the star of the Campus to engage community members. Everyone is talking about going to Lawrence to visit, not to drive through, but to visit, the Musical Swings. »
Interview with Judy Byron, Arts for Lawrence executive director
“The Swings utilize music to weave together human experience.”
— Design Boom
“I told my grandmother about it, It’s very therapeutic.”
— Community member of Lawrence
“Inviting cross-generational cooperative, exploratory, open-ended, creative fun”
— A Playful Path
Awards and Recognitions
- Grand Prize UNESCO Shenzhen Design Award
- Knight Cities Challenge
- Global Innovators Prize Creators Project
- Oprah’s OWN
- Frame Magazine
- Dezeen Interaction Awards, Best in Show
- Creators Project
- DesignBoom
- Dezeen
- Vimeo
- This is Colossal
Credits
A project by Daily tous les jours
- Creative Direction
- Mouna Andraos
- Melissa Mongiat
- Production
- Stu Wershof
- Design
- Rebecca Taylor
- Technological Direction
- Eva Schindling
- Technical Direction
- Eric Villeneuve
- Sound Direction
- Michael Baker
- Environment Design
- Anne Ouellette
- Magalie Rouleau
- Original Soundtrack
- Radwan Ghazi Moumneh
- Original concept created with
- Luc-Alain Giraldeau
- Alexandre Landry
- Industrial Design
- Générique Design
- Fabrication
- Jack World
- Mechanical Engineering Consultation
- Concept Paradesign
- Thank you
- Harvey & Kells Consultants
