provocations on repair /

repair for resonance

2022/23

archie koe

'the audiophile's sonic sanctuary'

How can sound be used as a medium for repair? Archie Koe’s project answers this by designing a therapy centre in Tower Hamlets that transforms rain-generated frequencies into tools for healing. Situated among narrowboat communities and young urban residents facing mental health challenges, the project creates a series of architectural ‘instruments’—from rain harps to frequency bathing rooms—each tuned to specific psychoacoustic therapies. The design is built from iterative 1:1 acoustic experiments, using heavy materials to insulate and isolate sound chambers, while also incorporating natural water systems to generate the therapeutic frequencies. Archie’s process was both scientific and poetic, combining clinical research with tactile making. Repair, in this context, isn’t just spatial—it’s sonic, emotional, and social.