Capturing the sounds of the sea, the sensors designed by IED students to listen to the aquatic “voices”

Sensors that capture the sounds of the sea and the voices of the creatures that live in the waters ofCapo Milazzo protected area, in Sicily, and bring them to the surface. Where then special installations, in the shape of portholes, arranged in panoramic points of the promontory, will allow walkers to stop and listen to them. And, again, the creation of four gardens in places now forgotten, to make them shelters for biodiversity. And finally, underwater and on-shore laboratories, where plant and animal species can be grown, to repopulate the seabed with flora and fauna.

These are the ideas presented in the thesis projects of Interior design (specialization in Scenography of events) of a group of students of the European Institute of Design (Ied) of Milan, for a project in collaboration with Marevivo Onlus, an association that promotes culture and respect for the sea.

A collaboration born thanks to Giuseppe La Spada, a former student and now a teacher at the IED, originally from Milazzo. «The pure and futuristic thinking of many students who dream of a better world thanks to the power of creativity has taken shape, and has allowed them to contribute to enhancing a territory whose beauty is often little considered. The synergy between various actors can be hope for the future of places and people »explains the teacher, while Carmen di Penta, director of Marevivopraises the collaboration as «a tangible example of the importance of involving young people on the need to have the sea protected».

Seven projects were presented. These include “Seamphony” by Lucrezia Buzzoni, Orsola De Fiori and Andrea Roma (the sound installations), “(Col) mare la terra” by Camilla Giuliani, Chiara Molteni and Anthea Sangalli (the intervention on forgotten places) and “Sea gardens »By Beatrice Bernasconi, Elena Gabbianelli, Pietro Gallese and Allegra Gargiulo (the repopulating aquariums). Highly interactive ideas: they involve the involvement of residents and tourists. It is imagined, for example, that some aquariums are placed inside schools, for the pupils to take care of.

Suggestive ideas. Will they ever see the light? Yes, assures the mayor of Milazzo Giuseppe Midili. «We are already working on the economic plan to transform the first of the projects into reality, perhaps for next summer: the idea would be to install listening points for the voices of the sea on the nature trails of the Lucifero Foundation. We were also struck by the proposal of videomapping on olive trees: it would have a very strong visual and emotional impact ». Any patrons will be welcome. The project on the seabed is more complicated: “We have to see if the currents allow it,” says the mayor. Whatever happens, «It was exciting to be among those who imagine the beautiful things of the future and to see us come up with ideas that we, living here, would never have even imagined. I hope that the collaboration with the IED continues ».