House of Music
Background:
The House of Music Hungary, a unique and multifaceted institution dedicated to musical education and heritage, opened in Budapest's City Park in January 2022. While Hungary is internationally celebrated for its musical legacy, no institution had previously hosted a comprehensive exhibition showcasing the history of Hungarian music within the broader context of European music—until now. From the outset, the House of Music emphasized the dissemination of musical knowledge as one of its core missions. To fulfill this aim, the institution initiated a collaboration with Back and Rosta to explore how their flagship product could support this vision. Following an extended co-creation process, a unique 6.5 m² interactive installation was developed and launched in early 2025: The Magic Wall – Hungarian Music Encyclopedia.
Challenges:
-
Enable multiple visitors to listen to music simultaneously.
-
Create a spectacular, large touchscreen interface accessible to people of various heights and ages, while ensuring that each user listens privately through their own display.
-
Present an enormous number of musicians and bands in a transparent and easy-to-navigate format.
-
Clearly visualize the relationships between bands and musicians, showing how their careers evolved over time.
-
Seamlessly integrate the uniqueness of musical content into the existing functionalities of the Magic Wall.
Product Description:
The overall Magic Wall is constructed from three 86” displays, mounted vertically in a portrait layout. The small gaps between the screens provide space for individual headphones – one for each display. Although the displays are not positioned completely side by side, the image visible on the overall wall forms a single unit, and movements and animations on the Magic Wall can be seen coherently across all three displays. Servers and related technical equipment are stored in a nearby service room.
From classical composers to legends of pop, rock, jazz, and electronic music, visitors can explore the rich and inspiring world of Hungarian music through the Magic Wall – Hungarian Music Encyclopedia. Installed on the exhibition level of the House of Music (Floor -2), this large-scale interactive touchscreen installation enables users to discover the lives and works of over a thousand Hungarian musicians, composers, and performers—completely free of charge. Visitors can engage with content by reading biographies, viewing photographs, and listening to curated music recordings. A uniquely designed search system enables exploration by genre, era, and artist, making the Magic Wall accessible and intuitive for all ages. Although the current database includes artists up to the turn of the millennium, plans are in place to expand it with 21st-century musicians. The Magic Wall doesn’t just educate—it entertains. With interactive features, games, and a playful interface, it provides an engaging journey through Hungarian music history for both young and old.
Main Highlights of Features:
-
Multi-user interaction: Multiple visitors can browse the Wall at the same time; up to three people can listen to music individually without interference.
-
Intuitive touch navigation: The responsive, smooth touchscreen interface is accessible to users of all sizes, including children.
-
Visual relationship mapping: Musicians and bands are connected through categories such as style and genre. A special feature shows musicians who collaborated or influenced one another side-by-side, guiding visitors through their connections.
-
Powerful search engine: Users can filter artists by genre, name, or keyword, and discover new, unexpected connections.
-
Unique music player interface: Each track includes song and album titles, as well as the artist's name, clearly displayed on the music player interface.
-
Gamified discovery: Interactive games and quizzes encourage playful learning and deeper engagement with musical content.
-
Results:
The Magic Wall has quickly become one of the most popular interactive features of the House of Music. Visitors appreciate the balance between entertainment and education, with many spending extended periods browsing through musical eras and artist connections.
Feedback indicates that the intuitive interface, combined with the rich content, appeals to a wide range of age groups and musical interests. Educators and guides have found it to be a valuable tool for engaging school groups and fostering curiosity about Hungarian music history. The system’s modular design also allows for future content updates and scalability.
Conclusion:
The collaboration between the House of Music and Back and Rosta has resulted in a groundbreaking installation that redefines how cultural institutions can present musical heritage. By blending state-of-the-art technology with deep musical knowledge, The Magic Wall – Hungarian Music Encyclopedia offers a dynamic and inclusive experience that brings Hungary’s rich musical traditions to life. It stands as a model for how interactive design can enhance cultural storytelling and make national heritage accessible, engaging, and future-ready.
