Almanac for a Walled City

Almanac for a Walled City was an interactive soundwalk by artist Christopher Steenson along Derry's city walls, accessed through a bespoke geolocation app.

Surveying today's existing landscape, listeners were invited to reflect on Derry's current place in ecological history, while contemplating how the city might sound and feel in 400 years as it is shaped by our ever-changing weather.

Taking inspiration from the importance of almanacs and weather forecasting in Irish history, artist Christopher Steenson worked with Nerve Centre on an intergenerational engagement project designed to collect the thoughts, predictions and innovative climate solutions of Derry's citizens.

The project's identity was centred on the aesthetics of isobars, geolines and emanating waveforms that morph into the shape of Derry's city walls. A pair of vibrating colours were used to heighten the sense of movement in an attempt to visualise sound.

An app was designed and developed in close collaboration with the artist and Echoes to create an immersive experience for the user where clarity of design and the user journey was key to reduce time engaging visually with the app, and instead to listen.