Cappella del Suono: Sensory Architecture in Nature

The Sound Chapel: A Sensory Experience in the Heart of Nature

Imagine a structure that seems to float above a field of grains, its wooden slats hanging like a delicate curtain swaying with the breeze. Here, the experience is not limited to aesthetic movement alone, it evolves into a fully immersive sensory encounter; when the wind intensifies, this architectural work doesn’t just move, it produces harmonious musical sounds.

Innovative Design and Interaction with Nature

Studio Carraldo conceived this unique concept in the Cappella del Suono, or Sound Chapel, located in the rolling hills of the Marche region in Lunano, Italy. At first glance, the pavilion appears simple; it is a 16-square-meter lattice wooden structure, entirely made from vertical slats.

Manipulating Heights and Bringing the Structure to Life

The most striking feature lies in the varying lengths of the slats, which are suspended at different heights to form an undulating lower edge, like a hanging wooden curtain dancing above the natural landscape. From here, the structure comes alive; the interaction between wind and wood creates a multi-dimensional sensory experience, blending visual and auditory perception, making the visitor feel as if they are part of the natural scene itself.

Minimalist wooden lattice structure of Cappella del Suono chapel rising from a golden wheat field under a blue sky. — Designed to look as if it grew naturally from the grain fields, the structure rejects traditional solid walls.

Detailed view of vertical wooden slats of Cappella del Suono and a long wooden bench supported by a natural stone. — The slender wooden slats are suspended at varying heights, creating a jagged lower edge that mimics a curtain.

Acoustic Details: Carving and Interaction

Each wooden element was meticulously carved, with holes placed at precise points, giving the slats the ability to interact with their surroundings. As the wind moves through the structure, or when a person passes and touches the slats, the components collide to produce refined and distinctive sounds, demonstrating innovative building materials use.

Multi-Layered Sounds

These are not merely ordinary sounds; they are multi-layered auditory experiences that constantly shift according to the wind’s strength and direction. This dynamic variation ensures that each experience is unique, never to be replicated in the exact same way twice.

A Dialogue Between Past and Present

On days when the wind is particularly active, the echoes of the slats resemble the distant chimes of the nearby Convento di Monte Illuminato. Here, a remarkable dialogue emerges between contemporary installation art and historic ecclesiastical architecture, creating a fully immersive sensory experience that unites sight, sound, and history all at once. The project has also been highlighted in various architectural news publications.

Low angle shot looking up through the hollow wooden slats of Cappella del Suono towards the blue sky. — Each wooden element is carefully drilled with holes to allow the wind to create musical harmonies.

A person walking through the vertical wooden slats of the Cappella del Suono pavilion, blurring the lines between inside and outside. — Interaction with the structure, whether by wind or touch, produces distinct and rhythmic acoustic layers.

Opening Up to Nature: A Different Architectural Approach

What makes the Cappella del Suono project so captivating is its refusal to conform to traditional architecture. While most buildings aim to repel natural elements, this project invites them in. It is designed to be permeable, allowing wind, light, and views to flow freely, making the structure blend seamlessly with its surroundings rather than dominate them. The pavilion rises among the grain fields as if it naturally grew there, becoming both an integral part of the landscape and a distinctive architectural space.

Light and Shadow: A Changing Experience Throughout the Day

The visitor’s experience shifts dramatically over time. In the morning light, sunlight streams through the vertical slats, casting long shadows that dance on the ground. By the afternoon, these patterns transform completely, creating what Studio Carraldo describes as a space rich in atmosphere, never repeated in the same way twice.

Architecture as a Living Performance

Here, the philosophy of the project is clearly manifested: architecture is not merely a static building, but a living performance that continuously interacts with its environment. Light, air, and natural sounds all come together to create a unique sensory experience for each visitor, reinforcing the principles explored in architectural research.

Motion blur of wooden slats in Cappella del Suono swaying in the wind to create a dynamic visual and auditory effect. — The movement of the slats creates a sensory dialogue between the contemporary installation and the surrounding nature.

A woman lying on the wooden bench inside Cappella del Suono looking up through the rhythmic wooden slats. — The interior atmosphere changes throughout the day as light and shadow dance between the vertical slats.

The Mystery Between Inside and Outside

A bench extends across the project space, from the interior to the exterior, perfectly reflecting the philosophy of the Cappella del Suono. The question arises: where does the inside end and the outside begin? It is intentionally left unanswered, allowing visitors to experience the space while feeling a full connection with the surrounding hills and fields, as if they are part of the natural scene itself.

Structural Simplicity and Respect for Nature

The structural approach is marked by both simplicity and lightness. The slender vertical supports are anchored directly to the ground, highlighting the temporary and non-intrusive nature of the installation. There are no heavy foundations, nor permanent alterations to the landscape; it is a design that respects its context rather than imposing upon it, showcasing innovative building materials and construction principles.

Multi-Sensory Architecture

What Studio Carraldo has achieved goes beyond creating a visually pleasing structure. Here, architecture engages multiple senses simultaneously: one sees the geometric pattern of the wooden lattice, feels the breeze passing through it, and hears the rhythmic collisions of the wood. All these elements come together to create a unique experience that combines sculpture, musical instrument, and shelter at once, making the project more than a place, it is a living performance interacting with both the environment and its visitors.

Aerial perspective of the 16-square-meter Cappella del Suono wooden pavilion situated on a hill in the Marche region. — At 16 square meters, the pavilion maintains a humble footprint that respects the historical context of the site.

A close-up view of the Cappella del Suono's vertical wooden slats by Studio Carraldo, showing the uneven edges and a wooden bench extending through the structure in the Italian landscape. — The intricate arrangement of vertical wooden slats creates a dynamic curtain that reacts to the wind, producing harmonious musical sounds.

Challenging Expectations: Architecture in Service of Nature

The Cappella del Suono project defies our traditional expectations of what architecture should do. Instead of providing solid walls and protection from the elements, the project celebrates permeability and responsiveness to its surroundings. It does not strive for permanence or timelessness, but embraces moment-to-moment change. Each visitor’s experience varies depending on the weather, the time of day, and even the way they move through the space, making every visit a unique encounter.

Enlightened Simplicity in the Age of Technology

In an era of smart buildings and high-tech architecture, the project offers a refreshing approach: a structure that uses no electronics, engines, or digital controls. Only wood, wind, and thoughtful design create an experience reminiscent of traditional wind chimes, yet imbued with a contemporary sense of modernity.

Architecture as a Living Experience

Cappella del Suono proves that the most innovative architectural designs can emerge from engaging with nature rather than resisting it. Here, the building becomes a living performance, harmonizing with its environment and engaging the senses in a continuously renewed experience, demonstrating that architecture can be more than a mere place, it can be a fully immersive sensory journey.

Positioned in the hills of Lunano, the pavilion acts as a sensory instrument that echoes the distant bells of the Convento di Monte Illuminato.

A wide-angle landscape shot of the Cappella del Suono pavilion emerging from a grain field in the hills of Italy under a blue sky with white clouds. — The Cappella del Suono rises from the grain fields like a natural growth, respecting the environment with its simple and non-intrusive structure.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

From an architectural perspective, the Cappella del Suono project offers a unique sensory experience and demonstrates the potential of design to create a direct interaction between structure and nature, an evident advantage in the pursuit of architecture that responds more dynamically to its surroundings. However, the project remains limited in terms of practical application; its small scale and lack of a solid foundation make it more of an artistic and experimental installation than an architectural model that can be replicated on a larger scale or in different environments. Additionally, the complete reliance on natural elements renders the experience variable and uncontrollable, which may reduce the project’s functionality in certain conditions or in more challenging urban settings. Nevertheless, this concept can be leveraged to explore new ways of engaging the senses in architectural design, particularly in projects that aim to integrate nature and art within public or recreational spaces, while incorporating technical or structural solutions to enhance sustainability and continuous usability.