Passageways 2.0_Pipe Organ

Chattanooga, Tenessee, USA 2017 (Competition - Design Jury Finalists)

Passageways 2.0 is a competition that intends to transform an alley in Chattanooga into a vibrant pedestrian space to be used as a pathway and small public events.
We aim to enhance the conductive character of the alley, as well as its ability to shorten the way, bringing places and people closer.
The pipe organ, a white metal pipes’ composition, spreads along the alley as veins transporting voices, music, light, pacifying white colours. Heart veins, brain veins, marble veins, leaf veins, connecting people to people, people to the space.
It works as a mean of communication itself – the “talking pipes” permit conversations between each of its extremities -, allowing, at the same time, to spread the inner sound towards the adjacent streets, turning the alley into a permeable yet protected space.
This piece hangs on a light metal structure fixed on the surrounding walls, creating a ceiling that harmonizes the alley, unifying it in a place with an identity of meeting point, a gathering centre. This concept has a straight relation with the Urban Chandelier, although the materiality creates a very different space.
During the night, it becomes alive in the dark – the “light pipes” draw the way of the veins. Through coloured LED stripes that are fixed to the metal pipes, the alley is illuminated by the reflection of high intensity light on the walls and pipes, carefully orientated aiming comfortable, scenic and secure lighting.
People are drawn to the pipe organ through the box, a yellow cube that works as an entrance to a special place - you see it when passing by E7th Street, you feel something different and you want to discover it. Follow the inviting sentences on the floor and on the walls, enter and enjoy the concert, have fun talking to friends and unknown people through the pipes, have a picnic, take part on a performance.