A Sculptural Listening System Made from Concrete Canvas
Designed by Hagar Guri, A-PQ 31.37 is a suspended open-baffle loudspeaker system that explores the relationship between sound, structure, and spatial experience. The project moves away from conventional speaker enclosures by exposing the acoustic components and structural elements, allowing the driver, wiring, and rear radiation surface to become visible parts of the object. Each speaker is formed from a single pressed sheet of Concrete Canvas, creating a continuous curved shell that is concave at the front and convex at the back. The material provides structural rigidity while maintaining a lightweight visual profile, enabling the speaker to function as both an acoustic device and a sculptural object. The asymmetrical geometry of the baffle contributes to reduced acoustic interference, while the open structure allows sound to disperse freely through the surrounding space.
Unlike traditional loudspeakers that conceal their internal construction, A-PQ 31.37 treats every surface as part of the listening experience. The exposed driver, suspension system, and mechanical connections reveal the relationship between the object’s construction and its acoustic performance. Suspended from steel cables, the speakers appear detached from the floor, emphasizing their interaction with the surrounding architecture and the listener.
all images courtesy of Hagar Guri
Integrating acoustics, material research, and electronics
The system includes a custom control unit incorporating digital signal processing (DSP), preamplification, and analogue controls. Designed as a complete audio system, the components share a unified visual language through exposed fasteners, typography, and carefully positioned interfaces. The development process by designer Hagar Guri combined acoustic simulations, physical prototypes, material experiments, measurements, and listening tests. These studies informed the final geometry and construction method, demonstrating how Concrete Canvas can be adapted as a structural material for high-performance audio applications. A-PQ 31.37 examines the loudspeaker as a spatial object, combining acoustic engineering, material exploration, and industrial design into a single system where structure and sound remain visibly connected.
A-PQ 31.37 is a suspended open-baffle loudspeaker system by Hagar Guri
the project explores the relationship between sound, structure, and space
the loudspeaker exposes its acoustic components and construction process