klangweg toggenburg
the ‹sound trail› of the klangwelt (sound world) in the toggenburg mountain region is a great success story that is known far beyond the borders of switzerland. up to 50,000 people each year – families, nature lovers, music and art enthusiasts – visit this unique hiking trail.
in 2024, the klangweg has been completely modernised and revised. international sound artists have taken part in this project and created diverse, exciting works that visitors are invited to explore, listen to and, of course, bring to life. themes such as nature, soundscape, ecology, climate and mindfulness have been incorporated.
the newly developed scenography and signage consists of a modular system with bright yellow steles and round signs made of stainless steel. the minimalist intervention, designed to have a long-distance effect, connects the various sound installations.
the signage is inspired by the marker poles on ski slopes and the orientation poles for snow ploughs on winter roads. it is therefore an aesthetic that is already very familiar in the local environment. the combination of the elegant steles and the round signs is also reminiscent of musical notes that run through the landscape like a score.
the sound trail was officially opened with a sound festival featuring three concert evenings with internationally renowned musicians and a vernissage.
for the oberdorf chairlift, an additional ‹soundride› was developed by idee und klang, which forms a beautiful introduction and round-off to the klangweg and can be called up on site with a corresponding app on the phone.
the sound trail is accessible free of charge every day from the end of may to the end of october.
the signage of the sound trail is also a small preview of the new visual identity of klangwelt toggenburg, which is currently being developed by us and will be unveiled towards the end of 2024. the klanghaus, which is currently still under construction, will then open in 2025.
project details
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klangweg toggenburg is a sound trail in the alpine foothills of eastern switzerland, attracting up to 50,000 visitors a year. the hiking trail invites families, nature lovers and music enthusiasts to explore sound installations embedded in the landscape. in 2024, the trail was modernised with new works by international sound artists and a redesigned scenographic and signage system.
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the concept connects sound, movement and landscape through a minimal visual intervention. inspired by the familiar marker poles used on ski slopes and winter roads, the signage draws on forms that already belong to the local environment. the design creates a recognisable identity for the trail while allowing the surrounding nature and sound installations to remain at the centre of the experience.
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the signage combines bright yellow steles with circular signs made of stainless steel. designed to be visible from a distance, the elements provide clear orientation along the route while creating a distinctive rhythm throughout the landscape. their combination also evokes musical notes moving through the terrain like a score, connecting wayfinding with the acoustic character of the trail.
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the modular signage system guides visitors between the sound installations and establishes a coherent visual language across the trail. an additional soundride on the oberdorf chairlift, developed by idee und klang audio design, offers an introduction to the experience and a final sound moment at the end of the journey, accessible via a mobile app.
the redesigned klangweg was also the first application of the new klangwelt toggenburg visual identity, introduced ahead of the opening of the klanghaus in 2025.
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client: klangwelt toggenburg
year: 2024
location: toggenburg, eastern switzerland
services: concept development, scenography, signage design, graphic design and wayfinding -
artistic director: christian zehnder, ceo klangwelt: mirjam hadorn, sound scenography: idee und klang audio design, scenography space: atelier frank dittmann, signage & graphic design: studio marcus kraft, text: bettina mittelstraß, custom typeface: david jonathan ross, project management klangcampus: guy loretan, project management klangwelt: kathrin dörig, edi hartmann, construction supervision: christian gauer, photography: beat belser, marcus kraft