In a similar manner, we form subconscious memories from the sounds that fill our environment, although not always in a positive way. Noise pollution can be quite overwhelming, pulling us away from the present moment as we zone out. Thankfully, this fascinating turntable-inspired device aims to recapture that lost sonic experience by transforming the recorded sounds into a mesmerizing bell-like hum.
Designers: Map Project Office, Father
This imaginative piece is like a slowly rotating meditation bowl bell that you can mount on your wall. While it adds visual appeal, its function goes far deeper. Each element of the Sonic Heirloom holds meaning, reflecting how sounds influence our memories. For instance, there’s a puck that records the ambient sounds throughout your day, which can then be placed inside a frosted glass vitrine — symbolizing the haze of our memories.
Once you hit play, the bowl begins to spin like a turntable, gently brushing against a leather-covered player that functions as the record player’s arm. Constructed from reclaimed tin and copper, the bowl carries the stories of its previous lives while producing sounds as individual as our own memories. Over the years, it will develop a unique patina that holds its own set of new experiences.
As the bowl spins, it creates friction against the player, producing a resonant sound akin to the soothing hum that such bells are famed for. It takes our subconscious memories, both those captured by our ears and the puck, and transforms them into a chance for mindfulness — perhaps leading us to recall the pleasant moments of our day.
