Ariella Gimpel

Sound is not just an abstract concept; it is an instrument of expression in South Africa. It serves as a means to praise or protest, to unite or disperse, to energize or to mourn. Sound is not confined to a vacuum; rather, it exists within space and unfolds over time, as does architecture.
My research commences with South African music and live performance, recognizing their cultural, social, and economic potential. I then investigate acoustics, psychogeography, the symbiotic relationship between music and architecture, and improvisation as a means of creation.
Amidst the improvised tapestry of Alexandra township in Johannesburg, a community shaped by ongoing political struggles and rapid urbanisation, we find a resourceful, rhythmical, and diverse population deeply committed to the arts. The Alexandra soundscape provides the setting for the Sound Incubator: a speculative architectural intervention to facilitate live performances as a response to the scarcity of suitable venues.