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DESIGN / FEATURE

Rooted in any New Yorker’s pre-lockdown experience, the soundscape offers an unusual comfort

The asymmetric design and the use of translucent medical silicone means the mask does not totally conceal the wearer’s facial expression, instead remaining sensitive to social needs. Abruptly hacking into the cultural, social and economic dynamics of the urban landscape, the virus has radically changed cities across the globe on a weekly basis. In many metropolises, Covid-related designs continue to move forward and adapt at a rapid pace to reflect constantly updating lockdown and social distancing rules. Two months after the city’s lockdown, the New York Public Library (NYPL) sang a love song to New Yorkers. Missing Sounds of New York, an album released on 1 May, comprises eight tracks of New Yorkers’ most shared narratives – from a daily commute, through self-absorbed gossiping on the subway, a home run in a baseball game, phone calls in a variety of languages, to the city’s vibrant night life and the quiet solitude of the l ibrar y. Residents sent in clips, and the library used these alongside archived audio, with approximately 100 people contributing to the album, which was produced in just three weeks. While the idea is really about capturing audio from the time before quarantine, some spoken parts were recorded to depict typical NYC scenarios. The voice of ‘the taxi driver’, in reality a family member of the producer Kimberly Chavez of independent creative agency Mother New York, was recorded in a wardrobe-cumsoundbooth at the producer’s home. The audio production is the second collaboration between the NYPL and an Mother New York since 2018. The project emerged from a Zoom meeting between Mother New York and the NYPL, initially set up to discuss ways to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the library this year – with both parties lamenting the vibrant city life they dearly missed. With much of the sound rooted in any New Yorker’s pre-lockdown experience, this NYC soundscape offers an unusual comfort in an atypical silence in the metropolis. Another event that set out to motivate citizens took place on 6 July – an unexpected light show spectacle, performed by 300 synchronised drones in the sky above the Han River in Seoul. With the returning threat of coronavirus in South Korea, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport organised the event, which surprised onlookers gazing at the night sky. Pinpoint lights took to the air in formation, morphing into various sparkling graphics encouraging health measures and showing appreciation to the medical workers and all residents. To achieve the intended patterns in the air, the project was led by the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology. The technology

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TOP Sterilising Lamp by Frank Chou

ABOVE Woobi Play by Kilo Design

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