Butler worked as art director and concept designer together with Nachtlab agency for HARMAN/ KARDON to create the Harman Kardon Suites event, a multi-sensory brand experience that showcased the essence of Harman Kardon through taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound.
Harman Kardon Suites debuted at Das Stue, a boutique hotel housed in a distinctive classical-style building that was once the Danish Embassy. With its elegant, timeless atmosphere, it mirrored the sophisticated design Harman Kardon is known for and was the perfect venue to bring the Symphony for the Senses concept to life.
The event drew inspiration from the tables of the essential Chinese elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) bringing forth a multi-sensorial design that encouraged guests to explore a unique, personal, and emotional journey throughout the evening.
interview about the Symphony of the senses
The Art of Listening
The journey began upon arrival with a fleet of 25 luxury BMW vehicles equipped with Harman Kardon premium audio systems transporting the guests from Berlin’s Tegel Airport to Das Stue. En route to the venue, guests were treated to a guided audio experience that incorporated taste and scent as a way to enhance their listening experience. The music tracks played in the cars mirrored the event playlist used at the hotel. From the very beginning, the guests got a taste of what the spectacular evening would offer.
THE SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Upon arrival at the hotel, the program kicked off with a welcome cocktail that led into the Harman Kardon Suites experience, encompassing a sense of home, comfort, and visual, all brought to life through five individual hotel suites.
Each suite highlighted a transfixing moment that was amplified through Harman Kardon audio and delivered via each of the five human senses.
From a stirring accapella song against the backdrop of a Bedouin tent, to a pianoforte solo in a darkened space, and a graceful ballet performance in a room filled with fresh-cut pink roses, each space was entirely unique.
Using different anchor colours in the individual rooms offered a unique and compelling tableau delving into the interconnectedness of the senses.
YELLOW
RED
BLUE
BLACK
PINK
Exquisite Culinary & Entertainment Delights
The evening culminated in a three-course dinner created by Michelin Star chef Paco Pérez, who focuses on spotlighting fresh and flavorful Mediterranean ingredients. After dinner, guests gathered in the outside courtyard for an unforgettable celebration of the power of sublime sound: a soulful intimate private performance by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Andra Day. Afterwards, the party continued well into the night with an DJ set from Gilles Peterson.
Martin Butler 