P004 → 20 Anos Casa da Música
Visual Identity
May, 2025
Visual identity designed for the celebrations of Casa da Música’s 20th anniversary. Unveiled in 2005, Casa da Música was the first building in Portugal devoted exclusively to the art of organising sound. With its striking architecture, work of Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the building’s imposing presence established a new landmark in the city of Porto. It was therefore established that its distinct shape would serve as the guiding principle for the visual identity.
The project's art direction is defined by a dual visual language: rigid, angular forms representing the building's sculptural presence, and fluid, undulating lines that evoke the constant flow of sound and musical movement.
Iconic representation of Casa da Música. Pointed. Irregular. Angular. Yet balanced. Distinctive. Simple. Cohesive. It evokes its singular volume and sculptural presence.
Representation of the soundscapes. Waving elements, created through linocut prints, allude to the fluidity of sound and the organic nature of the movements involved in musical creation.
With angular and irregular characters, much like the architecture of Casa da Música, the typeface conveys a modern and distinctive dimension, mirroring the iconic presence of the building in the city of Porto.
The project also features five characters based on musical icons, reinterpreted with the same angular aesthetic, to cater for Casa da Música’s educational and leisure initiatives. From left to right: Louie (inspired by Louis Armstrong), Hendry (inspired by Jimi Hendrix), Simone (inspired by Nina Simone), Bachi (inspired by Johann Bach), and Mozzi (inspired by Wolfgang Mozart). Illustrations by Inês Azevedo.
Team project with Inês Azevedo and João Nápoles. We thank Ognjen Gligorijević from OGV Design Studio for supplying their Grivel typeface for this project.