Designing a Concert Centerpiece

Designing a Concert Centerpiece

Methodology January 25, 2023

What do a Swiss EDM duo and an architecture firm have in common? A surprising amount in fact. In the same way architects and interior designers imagine the experiential nature of a building for its occupants, musicians carefully conceptualize and orchestrate the experience of their live shows for audiences. When Adriatique wanted to mark their 10th year of playing music with an energetic, engaging and memorable tour for their fans, ZGF’s model and fabrication shop created an interactive installation that references, in grand fashion, the duo’s decade of music making.

The frame of the X is made of aluminum and designed to be disassembled into 4 modules for ease of shipping from venue to venue across the globe.

The musicians teamed with Bryant Place, a Portland, Oregon-based director, and approached ZGF with a challenge—to build a large-scale and complex yet portable X (representing the Roman numeral Ten in reference to the duo’s anniversary) that would fly out over the crowd as the centerpiece of their live shows and ensure it could be broken down and easily shipped during the duo’s world tour. The X required technology and surface materials that allowed for phase changes with different lighting experiences as it, along with the entire stage and visuals engage with the audience throughout the concert. The nearly 9-foot-tall X breaks down into 4 identical crates for air and road shipping. 

The ZGF team working on and testing out the design in the Portland shop. 

Laser projection mapping helped determine how the X and the other stage elements would react to each other throughout the show.  

ZGF then assembled a team with AV consultant Beatrox, engineering firm Rbhu, and metal fabricators Flatline Fabricators, to bring the X from concept to completion in 6 weeks. ZGF developed the design in house, producing working mockups to test integrated high density LED lighting components. The final design weighs in at 500 pounds and features configurable skin cladding elements over a chromed aluminum frame. The project was air freighted from Portland to Zurich in under a week. The X is now on tour with Adriatique.

One sequence of the X and accompanying visuals on stage during a concert. 

Related

Growing the Maker Community at ZGF

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

Building a Career in ZGF’s Model Shop Community

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

Expanding the Possibilities of Custom Fabrication

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

A Model Mastermind Follows in Her Family's Footsteps

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now. 

Imagineering New Possibilities in Architectural Model Building

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

One Model Builder, A Thousand Miniature Cars

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

One Craftsman’s Journey from Wooden Boat Construction to Industrial Design

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building and fabrication, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.