What if you could hear 60 years of temperature change in just two minutes? Rotterdam’s Rising transforms climate data from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) into sound, turning decades of temperature records (1957–2022) into a musical composition. Through this unique translation, data becomes an audible experience, allowing us to perceive climate change in an entirely new way.
Watch the animation here.
The piece integrates a visual component, showcasing a dynamic map of Rotterdam that evolves alongside the music, reflecting the city's growth over the decades. The color of the map intensifies in response to the temperature: jarring red signals hot years, while cool blue represents colder periods. This visual element heightens the emotional impact of the sound, creating a multi-sensory experience that brings the city’s climate history to life.