Klangweg

New scenography and signage for the Toggenburg sound trail. Studio Marcus Kraft and Atelier Frank Dittmann have developed the scenography and signage for the new edition of the Klangweg Toggenburg (sound trail). Bright yellow steles with round stainless steel signs give the sound trail a contemporary new look.

The Klangweg is the flagship of Klangwelt Toggenburg (sound world) and a great success story that is known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. Up to 50,000 people a year families, nature lovers, music and art enthusiasts have visited the unique themed trail at the foot of the Churfirsten mountains over the past 20 years.

Under the leadership of Christian Zehnder, the artistic director of Klangwelt Toggenburg, the sound trail has been completely modernised and revised. The most beautiful and important works on the existing trail have been carefully restored. There are 12 new works of sound art to discover. International sound artists have taken part in this project and created diverse, exciting works that visitors are invited to explore, listen to and, of course, bring to life. Themes such as nature, soundscape, ecology, climate and mindfulness have been incorporated.

The newly developed scenography and signage consists of a modular system with bright yellow steles and round signs made of stainless steel. The bright poles are visible over long distances and therefore also serve as signposting elements.

The signage is inspired by the marker poles on ski slopes and the orientation poles for snow ploughs on winter roads. It is therefore an aesthetic that is already very familiar in the local environment. The modularity of the individual elements means that the sound sculptures can be customised. The combination of the slender steles and the round signs is also reminiscent of musical notes that run through the landscape like a score.

Each of the 25 sound installations has an information sign with the most important information about the respective station. In addition, there are so-called information islands at particularly important places along the six-kilometre route, which also display general information and a large overview map.

The minimalist intervention, designed to have a long-distance effect, connects the various sound installations. At the same time, it blends in carefully with nature and subtly emphasises the soundscape between the individual installations.

For the Oberdorf chairlift, a separate soundride was also developed by Idee und Klang, which forms a beautiful introduction and conclusion to the sound trail and can be accessed on site using a corresponding app on your phone.

The sound trail was officially opened with a sound festival featuring three concert evenings with internationally renowned musicians and a vernissage.

The signage of the sound trail is also a small preview of the new visual identity of Klangwelt Toggenburg, which is currently being developed by Studio Marcus Kraft and will be published towards the end of 2024. The Klanghaus (sound house), which is currently still under construction, will then open in May 2025.

The sound trail is accessible free of charge every day from the end of May to the end of October.

Published
19.06.2024

Credits: Studio Marcus Kraft & Atelier Frank Dittmann

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