The aesthetics of domestic sound
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Lise Lefebvre recently graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven with a lovely project which deals with sound in domestic appliances.
We’re surrounded by objects that create noise as a by-product of their function, affecting our health and quality of life. What if sound became a criterion for design? What would be the effects it could have on the look, feel, texture and overall experience of an object? Lise´s handfelted domestic appliances are audibly, but also visually silenced. The fabric absorbs most of the sound coming from the motors. As Lise wrote me "the little objects in particular seem to be purring very gently."
Pictures by Sander Lucas and Hans Tan. More domestic appliances: Dancing appliances, music from the kitchen, The Turnatable Microwave, Your head inside the washing machine, Manolo is gonna have fun, In the Kitchen, VJ Sewing machine, Machine therapy, etc. |
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Lovely work! This talk of Domestic Ambient noise reminds me of Mathew Herbert's early Around the House records, or even Ezekiel Honig's recent work.
What a beautiful notion! I love the idea of our appallingly noisy kitchen (when washing machine, dishwasher and kettle are going at it full-on, not to mention a toddler, it probably contravenes industrial health regs) transformed into a space that sounds like our cats on the sofa, late at night. ("the little objects in particular seem to be purring very gently.") Though i suppose dishwashers would purr like pretty big cats...
My 3 year old will love this, he hates these sounds. Felted coats for the drilling machine and other DIY appliances are very welcome too!