UK based firm Based Upon introduced a new piano design recently called the Twist/D. It’s the latest of the firm’s ventures into piano design, and their first autonomous model. The piano was unveiled in June 2024 at a London’s Eye of the Collector trade show, and the moniker comes from the company’s signature twist design.
Based Upon is a UK based design house with a difference. Their projects range from art to jewellery to, as in this case, grand pianos. Brothers Ian and Richard Abell, and Alex Welch, founded the company they still run in 2004. The Based Upon team takes its inspiration from global stories and traditions, with designs that balance material practicality with emotional responses.
Previous piano projects include The Baby, a collection of five baby grands now housed in private collections around the world, The Manhattan and The London, collaborations with Steinway & Sons, Digi-Baby, an avant-garde digital series, and several bespoke commissions. Other projects have seen the company partner with firms like Rolls-Royce and Tiffany & Co., with public projects that are on view in New York City, Mumbai, and Hong Kong.
Details
The structure of the Twist/D was reconceived from the ground up, taking elements of both functionality and artistic aesthetic (sculptural form) into account. It emulates the touch and feel of a concert quality grand piano.
“At Based Upon, we often question why functionality is so frequently deemed to destroy the purity of an artwork. Why should one be compromised in preference of the other? During our 12-year exploration of pianos as a subject, our intent has always been to create a credible piece of art, while preserving the integrity of the instrument.
“In Twist/D, we have gone further, introducing an immersive element to heighten the user’s experience. Twist/D is at once compelling, both as an artwork, and as a radical contemporary instrument,” comments Based Upon Co-founder Ian Abell.
Company Co-founder Alex Welch elaborates on the design.
“We set out to create a work that marries sculptural beauty with the feel of a world-class piano, enhanced by experiential, interactive soundscapes captured by Based Upon as we journeyed into landscape.
“For me, the best art comes from artists, designers and musicians who are confident enough to strip a piece back to its component parts; the essence of taking away to get more. This ethos has led to our approach to Twist/D. A series of large brass dials, inspired by analogue vintage synthesizers, offer a playful and tactile experience which allows the player to choose a sound, acoustically sculpt it, and then select a reverb location to perform in.”
• Materials used include the firm’s proprietary Tramazite finish, along with a graded blue and white patina, brass, steel, aluminum timber, and liquid minerals.
• The dials also let you control attack, tuning, and reverb.
• The pianos uses the sounds and tonal qualities of computer modelled Steinways and Bechsteins from different time periods. They’ve also replicated details like the pedal and hammer action of the sampled instruments.
The autonomous instrument can be played manually as well as via playback. They’ve also included a set of sounds captured on the Isle of Skye using balloons, letting you recreate the natural soundscape.
The unique instrument won’t be for everyone’s pocket, however, the innovations in technology and construction can only add to the growing, and fascinating, field of piano design.
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