Anchoring the publicly accessible courtyard of a new mixed-use development called the Gaslight District, a wave-patterned pavement embedded with 62 light rings and sensors becomes a joyful exercise in musical collaboration.

Set only a short distance away from the Grand River, River Lines shifts the city’s attention back to its long neglected waterfront, its design and musical score highlighting how for more than a century the river has been central to the rhythms of community life.

With different instrument sections (kalimba, piano, guitar, kora, harp, violin) assigned to positions across the pavement’s surface, players connect the dots to create arpeggiated clusters of notes that harmonize along with the playing of others to create one rich tapestry of music.

A large screen overlooking River Lines plots the players’ movements on an animated map for everyone watching. Constellations of sensor units in use appear in real time, visualising interactions.

Keeping the site a multi-functional space was a key consideration when designing River Lines. For concerts, movie nights, the artwork is turned off, and the screen is repurposed.

Music emanates from the ground as if by magic. Twelve in-house tailored audio tiles were developed to have no visible hardware and blend into the pavement pattern. Their design is created for Daily tous les jours’ Musical Pavement series, with a design that resists outdoor conditions and is suitable for permanent installation. Form and texture is adapted to fit the narrative of each edition.