Arts and culture: artistic collaborations

Combining elements of live theatre, immersive media, and musical ensemble, Björk pushes the boundaries of the live concert experience. In her latest show, she sought to capture the intimacy of singing live in a small room, unaided by traditional stage amplification and audio processing.

She commissioned Arup to design an acoustic reverberation chamber as part of the touring set — a unique approach to live stage performance that projects an encapsulated and intimate moment to a large-scale audience. The reverb chamber becomes both sanctuary and instrument, enabling Björk to sing in a naturally enveloping acoustic.

Based on previous experience with our SoundLab, Björk approached us for our ability to model and simulate the immersive experience of singing in the chamber. She challenged the Arup team to evaluate a wide variety of shapes and materials and relied on us to consider every implication of the chamber: acoustics first, but also audience sightlines, weight, portability, and durability in a touring environment.