Walking through airports tends to be boring. This is a shame, given that reaching baggage claim and changing planes usually necessitate long pilgrimages. Thanks to art in public places programs, many airports are battling boredom with interesting installations. At Chicago’s O’Hare, you can stroll through Sky’s the Limit, a tunnel of shifting colored neon created by artist Michael Hayden. At Denver International Airport, you can ride through “Deep Time, Deep Space: A Subterranean Journey” in the southbound tunnel, a display of reflective metal strips ad sheet metal cut-outs designed by Leni Schwendinger.

Me-lo-di. Designed by Jeriël Bobbe.

Musical Installation for Airport Walkways

These artistic endeavors are usually visually based. Designer Jeriël Bobbe is focusing on another vital sense with his Me-lo-di project—sound. A wooden platform with ribbed tiles, Me-lo-di lets pedestrians compose their own music as they make their way through airports. Bobbe’s design uses a unique notation system: “The distance between the ribs determines the pitch of the tones, the height of the ribs defines the volume.” Travelers can opt to walk along Me-lo-di in lieu of taking the horizontal escalators, making music instead of making good time.

To date, Me-lo-di has not been installed anywhere, although Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport may be the first taker. The current design, which was unveiled at Dutch Design Week, is constructed of American walnut. Bobbe believes “there is music everywhere!” With an interesting tune underfoot, tourists and business travelers will surely strike a chord.

Via Co. Design.

About the Designer: Jeriël Bobbe graduated Cum Laude from the Design Academy in Eindhoven in 2010. He focuses his designs on analyzing “why things are the way they are.” For example, Bobbe wondered why picnic baskets were designed for sitting on the floor, which is uncomfortable for many people. So he created Picknickbasket, an all-in-one basket and table. Bobbe has also designed an Intelligent Toothbrush that encourages children to brush their teeth by counting their strokes. The toothbrush has a USB, so kids can use their brushing-generated points to purchase toys.