The Singing Tree

01 — The Brief

A library space that breathes

Anythink Libraries wanted a signature art installation that would transform the feel of their space — something that felt alive, curious, and welcoming to visitors of every age. The piece needed to work as both ambient sculpture and active interactive experience, responding to visitors without requiring any instruction or interface.

The design challenge was creating an organic form that could hold sophisticated technology invisibly, making the interaction feel natural rather than technological.

02 — The Work

A tree that listens and responds

Alt Ethos designed and fabricated The Singing Tree — a large-scale sculptural tree form embedded with addressable LED lighting and a responsive sound system. The tree senses the presence and movement of visitors, shifting its light patterns and generating musical tones in response.

Each interaction is unique. The tree has moods — quiet and ambient when the space is still, more expressive and communicative as people engage with it.

03 — The Craft

Fabrication meets interactive technology

The Singing Tree required full custom fabrication — sculpting the form, integrating LED arrays throughout the structure, and building a sensor and audio system that could operate reliably in a library environment for years. All electronics are fully concealed within the sculptural form, maintaining the illusion of a living, breathing object.

04 — Updated Experience

The tree evolves

The Singing Tree has continued to develop since its initial installation. The updated experience deepens the responsiveness of the system, adding new behavioral layers that make each visit feel fresh — a sculpture that grows alongside the community it serves.