the Celestial atrium

Music has the power to transport us, to tell stories without words, and to evoke emotions that linger long after the final note. But what if we could take those emotions, those unspoken narratives, and translate them into something we can see, touch, and inhabit? That’s exactly what we’re exploring through our latest project: analyzing “Cornfield Chase” - Interstellar soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and transforming its soundscapes into visual, architectural spaces.

This isn’t just about listening to music—it’s about feeling its depth, interpreting its rhythms, and imagining how they can inform the design of physical spaces. Each track from Interstellar carries a sense of awe, isolation, and the infinite possibilities of the cosmos. My goal is to capture that essence and reimagine it in the form of environments that evoke the same wonder, emotion, and connection.

We research how to bridge the gap between auditory and visual art, creating a dialogue between sound and space that invites us to experience music in a distinct way. Join us on this journey as we explore how melodies and harmonies can inspire the architecture of our minds.

Listening to "Cornfield Chase" evokes a powerful sense of vastness, contemplation, and a futuristic yet deeply personal resonance.

The Celestial Atrium is a hybrid sanctuary, blending the raw power of science and the intimate touch of human emotion.

General Ambiance:

The space feels like a natural cathedral dedicated to time and the cosmos. It’s expansive, but it invites quiet introspection. The lighting subtly shifts, mimicking the phases of dawn and twilight, creating a gentle interplay between shadow and light, reminiscent of the music's crescendos and soft passages.

Ceiling:

A vast, concrete ceiling stretches high above, constructed of rough concrete. A central skylight, shaped like an elongated ellipse, allows natural light to spill in during the day, while at night, it mirrors the actual night sky with a holographic projection. Smaller apertures in the underground mimic constellations, pulsating softly like stars.

Walls:

Walls are clad in smooth concrete and textured oxidized metal, hinting at both the passage of time and the impermanence of matter.

Along certain stretches, vertical slits glow faintly with hidden LED strips, emitting a warm amber light that mirrors the theme of hope.

Flooring:

The floor is a smooth, reflective black resin, resembling the surface of still water or an infinite void. Walking upon it feels grounding yet otherworldly, as though stepping into the unknown.

Furniture:

Minimalist yet inviting, the furniture is designed to feel like an extension of the environment.

Long, curving benches crafted from dark wood and upholstered with soft, grey fabric provide seating along the periphery.

A few asymmetrical lounge chairs, inspired by meteoric forms, are positioned near the central Time Pillar for solitary reflection.

Low, translucent tables with embedded LED lights shift colors based on the ambient light, creating a sense of fluidity and movement.

Lighting:

The primary light source is indirect, emanating from recessed fixtures that softly glow along the edges of the ceiling and floor.

Kinetic pendant lights—delicate sculptures of floating rings—hang in clusters in certain corners. Their movements are synchronized with the music, subtly swaying in time to the composition's tempo.

Water Element:

Shallow, circular reflecting pools mirror the skylights. Tiny, intermittent ripples create shifting patterns of light on the ceiling above, a dynamic dance between sound and movement.

Color Palette:

Deep, inky blacks and natural taupes dominate, accented by soft silvers and subtle golden highlights.

Overall Experience:

Stepping into The Celestial Atrium is like walking into a portal to another dimension. It combines the vastness of the universe with a profound intimacy, encouraging visitors to reflect on their place in the cosmos. The design echoes the themes of Zimmer’s music: the interplay of isolation and connection, of scientific wonder juxtaposed to the natural rawness of the material and the human emotion, as well as the timeless dance between light and darkness.

Urban Archetype - Series - Exploring the Sound of Space: Translating Music Into Visual Architecture