SENSESCAPES - reviewed

Sensescapes was a recent successful one-day collaborative event which explored the relationship between sound, light, space and experience.

Sponsored by The Light Projects Group and hosted by British Music Experience at the O2 in London, it comprised talks, workshops and practical presentations from some of the UK’s leading professionals in the areas of Lighting Design, Sound and Architecture.

This innovative and exciting concept was developed and curated by SPACEPILOTS, a collaborative practice of architecture and art, and drew on expertise from many well-known people, including artist and sound designer Thor McIntyre, Sharon Stammers from The Professional Lighting Designers Association as well as David Atkinson, Mark Ridler and Graham Festenstein.

The theme of the Workshops was to illustrate the way in which light and sound can be used to modify mood and emotions within the context of an architectural space and how sound can interact with light to magnify or alter this perception.

To illustrate this, one of the workshops gave participants a hands-on practical understanding of the intangible elements of designing with light. ‘Light, Space and Emotion’ was run by Graham Festenstein - an independent lighting consultant with over 15 years’ experience across a wide field of work.

Another interesting workshop was run by Thor McIntyre and entitled The Physicality of Sound. This fascinating workshop took visitors on a journey exploring the dynamic between space and sound and how the spatialised use of sound can subtly alter the way people use, and indeed experience, public spaces and architecture. It also delved into the contextual relationships between sound and space even considering the physical entity or object that is emitting the sound and its role within the overall equation.

The talks were based around Social Identity, atmospheres through light and aural ecology and provided a provocative, insightful and informative day for visitors.

Talking about the workshops Charlie Wadsworth, Light Projects’ Commercial Director, comments, “Once again we at Light Projects are happy to be able to sponsor an event for which we have a great affinity. We are delighted to have been able to support such a successful design workshop and congratulate all on producing such an innovative, imaginative and thought-provoking event.”