Frozen music

Architectural Review, The, Feb, 2008 by Sutherland Lyall

Given the way architects trot out that old Friedrich von Schelling saw about architecture being frozen music, you'd think you'd hear a lot more sound on websites. But no, that old Calvinistwhite-walls-less-is-more-fit-for-purpose conditioning has condemned we auditors of architectural websites to a very dull aural experience indeed.

I have to say that sound or music of itself is not enough. I can think of one site whose amateur musical accompaniment put me off the practice for life. But any aficionado of those 1950s Canadian Film Board abstract animations will know the value of the occasional click or berrrrupt as a mouse scrolls over a screen button. So I'm half pleased that French practice Brenac & Gonzalez do music on their website at www.brenac-gonzalez-architectes.com. It's half pleased because the music, which accompanies the quite whizzy animated graphic introduction, is a bit so-so. And, after you reach a page where lots of versions of the practice name float around, it fades out. For no good reason. And you hate yourself for then asking what the music was doing there in the first place. So all I want to say at this point is: Music good. Good music and well integrated with the site, much better. And please, don't do it yourself. Hire a professional. Or rent an appropriate tune.