Denmark’s EKKO Pavilion Records the Voices and Footsteps of Visitors Navigating its Spiral Path

Artist <a href="http://www.thilofrank.net/" target="_blank">Thilo Frank</a>’s latest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/leonardo-drew-transforms-reclaimed-wood-into-apocalyptic-oversized-installations/" target="_blank">wooden installation</a> forms a snaking tunnel of timber in northern Denmark. Called “EKKO,” the installation <a href="http://inhabitat.com/be-open-sound-portal-brings-music-and-acoustic-art-to-trafalgar-squares-crowds-at-london-design-festival/" target="_blank">comes to life with sound</a> as visitors walk beneath the wooden frames. Microphones hidden within the beams record footsteps and voices, which are then played back in a distorted echo.

The sprawling installation encircles a grassy knoll at a Danish park. Twisting and contorting as if it is a giant square slinky, visitors are invited to walk in and around to activate EKKO’s musical features.

200 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/foret-ii-is-a-meditation-pavilion-made-from-810-reclaimed-shipping-pallets/" target="_blank">wooden frames</a> of varying size are spaced out to make up the piece, united with a continuous concrete walkway

The sounds created by EKKO are entirely dependent upon the steps and voices made by visitors

The hidden <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-post-submission-1291/" target="_blank">microphones pick up the sounds</a>, which are then remixed by a computer and then played back throughout the installation. The sounds are also archived, turning the installation into a sort of sound time capsule, giving the artist a snippet of the visitors who experienced EKKO on a given day.

Aside from a sound installation, EKKO also interacts directly with the sun. Since the 200 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gigantic-timber-wave-installation-welcomes-the-london-design-festival-to-va/" target="_blank">wooden frames</a> are each set apart, the sun has varying effects during the day, throwing a lattice work of shadows on the site, while also filtering light in different effects. From afar, the slats cause a vibrating edge effect, looking almost static to the naked eye.

Frank’s installation combines architecture, art and sound, while creating an audio record of itself.