THE ITALIAN SOUND FESTIVAL RECREATES AN ELECTRIFYING ARCH ON STAGE BY FUSING HISTORY WITH ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Live music can immerse you in the moment, making you feel as though you’re in a different world. The event's visual design is just as important as the music itself. For the June 13–14, 2025, electronic Adriatic Sound Festival at Fano Airport in Italy, the architecture firm STUFISH designed an eye-catching stage. Its captivating show emphasised the transformational potential of music and community by fusing historical symbolism with modern imagery.
For the festival, STUFISH created two stages: a techno stage and a house music stage for the host DJs. The Temple was designated as the main stage. It was intended to be a temporary city that combined the past and the future, drawing inspiration from Fano's old Roman legacy. Inspired by the Arch of Augustus, a historic gateway constructed as part of the city's defence fortifications in 9 CE, the Temple's focal point was an arched structure encircled by neon pillars. However, STUFISH envisioned it as a portal—a community gathering spot where people come together for the common experience of live music—rather than a location to keep people out.
A revolving drum at the centre of The Temple moved the performers as they performed. An ever-changing focus point made possible by motion gave the audience a sense of immersion. Lasers, a canopy of lights, and a glowing halo glowed from above, illuminating the concertgoers with the only light in the area. The stage served as a beacon for interactive celebration where time seemed to stop, and the effect established a close connection to the location.
The stage's shape-shifting arched form was perhaps its best example of timeless design. Festival attendees could see The Temple's arch from one angle, and the shape looked like an infinite symbol from another. It served as a reminder that both music and live performances are timeless.