klangweg toggenburg
the ‹sound trail› of the klangwelt (sound world) in the toggenburg mountain region is a great success story that is known far beyond the borders of switzerland. up to 50,000 people each year – families, nature lovers, music and art enthusiasts – visit this unique hiking trail.
in 2024, the klangweg has been completely modernised and revised. international sound artists have taken part in this project and created diverse, exciting works that visitors are invited to explore, listen to and, of course, bring to life. themes such as nature, soundscape, ecology, climate and mindfulness have been incorporated.
the newly developed scenography and signage consists of a modular system with bright yellow steles and round signs made of stainless steel. the minimalist intervention, designed to have a long-distance effect, connects the various sound installations.
the signage is inspired by the marker poles on ski slopes and the orientation poles for snow ploughs on winter roads. it is therefore an aesthetic that is already very familiar in the local environment. the combination of the elegant steles and the round signs is also reminiscent of musical notes that run through the landscape like a score.
the sound trail was officially opened with a sound festival featuring three concert evenings with internationally renowned musicians and a vernissage.
for the oberdorf chairlift, an additional ‹soundride› was developed by idee und klang, which forms a beautiful introduction and round-off to the klangweg and can be called up on site with a corresponding app on the phone.
the sound trail is accessible free of charge every day from the end of may to the end of october.
the signage of the sound trail is also a small preview of the new visual identity of klangwelt toggenburg, which is currently being developed by us and will be unveiled towards the end of 2024. the klanghaus, which is currently still under construction, will then open in 2025.
credits
artistic director: christian zehnder, ceo klangwelt: mirjam hadorn, sound scenography: idee und klang audio design, scenography space: atelier frank dittmann, signage & graphic design: studio marcus kraft, text: bettina mittelstraß, custom typeface: david jonathan ross, project management klangcampus: guy loretan, project management klangwelt: kathrin dörig, edi hartmann, construction supervision: christian gauer, photography: beat belser, marcus kraft