Studio
Studio
During a trip to Kyiv, we spent a few days in a remote mountain hut in the Ukrainian part of the Carpathians. We left our white Volvo 740 parked in the valley. Our host passionately drove us through rivers, mud holes, and over tree trunks in his Soviet heavy-duty off-road vehicle, which had no suspension, until we finally reached our destination.
The hut was situated in the middle of a vast, gently sloping meadow known as the Polonyna, surrounded by forests and mountains. Inside the hut was a squeaky bunk bed, a small dining table, two chairs, a fireplace, and a piece of fragrant bacon that someone had left behind. We fetched fresh water from a small stream that flowed across the meadow. It was a quiet and peaceful place, almost magical, and we truly enjoyed the serene silence.
With little happening around us, we had the opportunity to observe closely. What made this place so immersive for our experience? What contributed to its strong aura? Was it coherence, harmony, or balance? Was it the atmosphere we could feel with our entire being? We began to understand the fundamental importance of sound in creating a holistic experience. We realized it was no coincidence; the sound of the Polonyna was a beautifully coordinated orchestration of the sounds of life from all its inhabitants and visitors—animals and plants alike.
We contemplated whether creating a similar experience in a different context would be possible. Could these “experiential spaces” be developed not only in the mountains but also in urban environments? If we look at any spatial design as a form of communication, our vision was to facilitate space-encompassing communication that focuses on the holistic experience of atmosphere and space. We aimed to evoke a sense of physical and mental presence, expand or dissolve perceived spatial boundaries, and draw attention to aesthetic qualities rather than the technical means used to produce them.
Rather than aiming for a naturalistic reproduction or simulation of a desirable reality, we envisioned the creation of new realities. This effort would be akin to composing a work of art through auditory design, where the composition is the space. Thus, the idea for the TAUCHER design studio was born.
In the early days, we seized every opportunity to experiment with and refine our ideas through various platforms, including fashion shows, expanded cinema, research labs, performances, festivals, showrooms, brand events, art exhibitions, museums, and media installations. Over the years, our emphasis on scenographic projects and exhibition design has evolved. Today, our work intersects art, knowledge transfer, and architecture.
We have also launched several satellite projects that align with the central theme of TAUCHER: auditory communication in space. One of these projects is MNTN – The Sound of the Mountain, where we have been developing intuitive spatial audio technology for artists and designers since 2015. We also share insights from more than ten years of experience working in multi-channel loudspeaker environments.
At spæs lab, we explore the relationships between sound, space, and human experience through an aesthetic lens. Operating independently of commercial constraints, we promote critical reflection and encourage the exchange of ideas among art, science, and technology. Our activities include workshops, a library, listening sessions, and residency and internship programs.
Our latest satellite project is the spatial audio loft Berlin. Creating spatial audio projects often requires a well-designed physical space, excellent acoustics, and a greater number of loudspeakers, which are still uncommon. Having recently renovated and acoustically optimized our studio, we offer an environment tailored for those who wish to work with non-standardized loudspeaker setups.