The Sound-O-Matic system was originally developed for the Greenhouses at the Botanical Garden in Aarhus, where approximately 100 loudspeakers are integrated into the beds and plants. This setup enhances the sense of authenticity, making visitors feel as if they are truly present within climate zones from around the world.
The system features animal and environmental sounds that are controlled in real time, allowing the soundscape to evolve continuously. For example, a flock of birds may suddenly take flight, their wings beating through the tropical rainforest. The direction of their movement is determined by randomised algorithms within the Sound-O-Matic system, ensuring that the flock never sounds the same way twice and never follows the exact same path through the forest.
In 2016, CAVI was asked to extend the audio installation to the restrooms. For three of the themed Greenhouse restrooms — the cornfield, beech forest, and olive grove — unique and interactive soundscapes were created. Each space was given its own distinctive auditory environment, enriching the visitor experience and tying the restrooms seamlessly into the overall narrative of the Greenhouses.
An example of the constantly changing soundscape of the Greenhouses -
An example of the visual and auditive experience from a walk through the Greenhouses -
