The visual representation of ‘Symphony’, the museum of South African Languages captures the idea of cultural communication through sound and language, translating this concept into the building’s design. The fragmented facade mimics the shape and movement of a sound wave, representing the diversity and rhythm of voices and language.
Each section of the facade shifts in a way that refl ects the dynamic fl ow of sound through space. The vertical facade of the building contrasts with the almost never-ending horizon and landscapes of the surrounding Cradle of Humankind. This emphasizes the building’s presence within its natural environment. Inside the building, these linear elements create shifting shadows as the sun moves across the sky from sunrise to sunset. These changing shadows replicate the way sound waves shape and shift as they move through space.
The building is constructed from timber and rammed earth, materials that tie in with the natural landscape’s colors and textures, creating a harmonious relationship between the structure and its surroundings.
