dark skies sonic pavilion suspends sound system over crowd at horst arts & music festival

Dark Skies sound installation rises at Horst Arts & Music Festival

Dark Skies is a large-scale sound installation developed by Leopold Banchini and Giona Bierens de Haan in collaboration with DJ and producer DVS1 for the Horst Arts & Music Festival, taking place just outside of Brussels. Suspended above the crowd, this large-scale sound system transforms the space into a collective, ‘democratic’ dance floor. Built with recycled materials and volunteer support, it creates a dense, intimate atmosphere where sound leads the experience and everyone becomes part of the same pulse.

The installation is composed of 116 top speakers and 58 subwoofers, forming a horizontal ceiling of sound entirely suspended above the audience. This configuration distributes sound evenly across the space and minimizes the visual and spatial focus on any single performer, directing attention to the collective environment.

all images by Jeroen Verrecht

Leopold Banchini & Giona Bierens de Haan collaborate with DVS1

Constructed using rented sound equipment, recycled ceiling panels, and standard timber sections, the system spans over 1,000 sqm. The structure was assembled during a workshop involving non-professional volunteers, emphasizing collaborative construction processes and the reuse of available materials.

The spatial layout creates a consistent proximity between participants and the sound sources, with no individual positioned far from the speakers, resulting in a multi-directional and uniformly distributed sound field. The design approach by studio Leopold Banchini Architects & designer Giona Bierens de Haan prioritizes acoustic immersion and spatial equity, enabling an open, non-hierarchical configuration for collective listening and movement.

the overhead structure is made of 116 speakers and 58 subwoofers

the pavilion is built using recycled materials and standard timber sections

recycled ceiling panels form part of the structural framework

ceiling-mounted speakers distribute sound evenly across the dance floor

the sound system spans over 1,000 sqm

a multi-directional sound field envelops the entire space

dense acoustic conditions create a collective auditory experience

designed by Leopold Banchini and Giona Bierens de Haan with DVS1

project info:

name: Dark Skies

designer: Leopold Banchini Architects | @leopoldbanchini, Giona Bierens de Haan | @giona_bh

client: Horst Arts & Music | @horstartsandmusic

collaborator: DVS1 | @dvs1hush

location: Vilvoorde, Belgium

photographer: Jeroen Verrecht | @jeroenverrecht

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom