‘Harmonic Convergence’ is an interactive sound and light installation, which has been constructed within the pedestrian walkway of the Miami International Airport in Florida. It features a 72-foot-long window wall with diamond-shaped panes of coloured glass in front of a white structural steel frame. The installation combines light, colour, and sound. A palette of more than 150 transparent colours was used in the piece, creating a gradually changing pattern ranging from deep reds to bright violets, similar to a rainbow.
The walkway features speakers which have been installed at regular intervals to create a continuously changing ‘sonic portrait’ of south Florida. Sounds of tropical birds, thunderstorms, and other environments native to the region can be heard from the speakers.
Video sensors are also featured at either end of the passageway that track visitor movement, causing changes in the density and composition of the sound piece relative to the number of passengers in the space. To achieve this effect, the shading louvers along the passageway’s western side were removed, increasing the light and openness of the space. The existing glass panels were then replaced with coloured glass in a diagonal pattern that mimics the existing X-bracing of the walkway. These columns, along with the floor and ceiling, were painted white to capture the play of colour and sunlight.
To replicate the installation’s effect during night hours, the designer replaced the existing fluorescent lighting with a series of computer-controlled LED lights.
The installation was created for the opening of the MIA people mover system in September 2011. The project is part of Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places programme.
