ALL IS SOUND. ALL IS TRANSFORMATION AT 032C WORKSHOP BERLIN
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Telekom Electronic Beats and Berlin-based media and fashion company 032c, the two have joined forces to present ‘All is Sound. All is Transformation,’ a pop-up installation by artist and designer Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios. On view from July 1–8, 2025 at 032c Workshop in Berlin, the work reflects on the materiality of music through a sculptural intervention that blurs the lines between archive, club culture, and social sculpture.
At the core of Nuriev’s installation is a stainless steel structure, displaying sequentially arranged CDs — a nod to the now-obsolete format and the spaces where music was once physically discovered. A CD player and repurposed car speakers are integrated into the work, activating it as a listening station. Complementing the installation, a limited capsule collection designed by 032c Creative Director Maria Koch further extends the project’s themes. designboom was invited to join Harry Nuriev and Maria Koch for a listening session inside the installation, where we talked about the depth of curated listening and how the energy of rave culture continues to shape their creative work.
images by Alejandro Arretureta (@alexberlinetta), unless stated otherwise | above and banner © designboom
IN CONSERVATION WITH HARRY NURIEV AND MARIA KOCH
designboom (DB): This installation celebrates the 25th anniversary of Telekom Electronic Beats and 032c. Maria, could you take us back to the beginning of 032c and how it evolved into the brand it is today?
Maria Koch (MK): 032c began as a gallery space my husband opened with friends. To promote what was meant to be a digital magazine, he decided to print its first issue — and that’s how 032c was born. When we met, we started working together and launched the simplest thing you could imagine: a bootleg T-shirt for a Sade concert. The shirt became a huge success — even Sade’s team reached out because they loved it. That moment set everything in motion and brought us to where we are now.
DB: Harry, could you tell us about your connection to the brand, and then walk us through the concept and key elements of this installation, giving us insight into what visitors are about to experience?
Harry Nuriev (HN): 032c was always my, I would say, ‘coffee table book’ — my favorite magazine for many reasons, but mainly because it was ahead of the curve. It was the first magazine that didn’t just publish content but built a real community around itself, and that idea of community has always been central to my work.
So this installation is a three-way collaboration between Electronic Beats, 032c, and myself. We’ve worked together before, and I hope it won’t be the last time. The concept here is very simple: I wanted to create a space where people feel compelled to put their phones down. The installation turns the table into a physical desktop — a literal playlist — where visitors can pick up a CD and play it.
Harry Nuriev designs pop-up installation for Telekom Electronic Beats and 032c collection launch
DB: The installation prominently features CDs, a medium that feels very nostalgic. In an age dominated by digital music, what is your core intention behind highlighting this “nearly obsolete medium,” and how does it speak to the concept of transformation and the curated experience?
HN: The beauty of curating a CD library today lies in the limitations. You’re working with an existing archive, and that restricts your options — but in a way that’s freeing. It reconnects you with original, culture-defining music. Since the selection reflects a specific era and place — like Berlin, in this case — it forces a kind of localized curation. You don’t have unlimited access like you would on your phone. And that’s the interesting part: we’ve come full circle to appreciating the value of being limited.
MK: What’s fascinating is that, unlike the endless options on your iPhone, this physical selection really makes you focus. Even if you want to listen to something else, you can’t — so you end up going deeper into what’s available. You hear tracks again, discover new layers, and engage more thoughtfully. That’s the strength of this kind of curation: it’s slower, more intentional, and opens you up to a completely different experience. It’s not fast or flashy — and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
featuring repurposed car speakers
DB: Maria, when you first reached out to Harry, what was it about his artistic vision and approach that made you feel he was the perfect artist to create this installation for 032c x Electronic Beats?
MK: There were a few reasons I reached out to Harry. The first was when I saw this stainless steel restaurant installation he designed in Paris — with everything from the plates to the dishwasher setup made from stainless steel. I was so impressed, I immediately wanted to collaborate with him on my first project. Timing didn’t work out then because I contacted him too late, but that was the initial connection. Since then, we’ve worked together on other things. For this project, the link came through Electronic Beats, who knew we already had a creative relationship.
DB: Harry, on your side, what specifically attracted you to this opportunity, and how did their vision resonate with your own creative interests?
HN: Where do I even start? The magazine is a cultural icon, and Maria’s creative and fashion direction constantly pushes my boundaries. I’ve known about the 032c family for a long time and when Maria calls, you just don’t say no.
a close-up look at the stainless steel sculpture showcasing a curated selection of CDs
DB: Maria, can you tell us about the inspiration behind the capsule collection, and how does it tie together with the theme of sound and transformation that runs through this anniversary project?
MK: The collection is a capsule of just three pieces — a cap, a bag, and a shirt. The idea is simple but deeply emotional for me. I was a real rave kid and partied hard, especially close to the music of The Prodigy. There’s one song, “No Good,” with a music video that stuck with me. Back then, music videos were everything — I hardly listened to the radio and watched videos all day. In this one, the band walks through a chalky, dusty bunker, mixing punk outfits with some bling. The energy was incredible. I wanted to capture that feeling, that chalky, dusty vibe, as a visual memory on the garments — chalk on the bag, on the cap, on the shirt. When we shared this with Harry, he immediately connected with the idea and brought The Prodigy’s spirit to life in the design.
DB: Harry, Maria mentioned she was a “classic rave kid.” Do you share the same passion for rave culture or do you find a similar resonance with specific music genres that influence your work?
HN: Absolutely. I’m not really into vinyl — it’s a cool format, but it wasn’t part of my personal experience growing up. That was more my parents’ thing. For me, CDs have the same role as vinyl does for others. I really want to keep that in my life. Honestly, I was just thinking I want to recreate the same table setup at home, invite my friends over, and listen to music together — even if it’s on some crappy car speakers that actually sound pretty good.
MK: Techno was really the last truly innovative youth culture in music. I remember it feeling so brave, wild, and somewhat untamed. It wasn’t dangerous, but it was like these hidden clubs where we all went. Even though my parents were open-minded and smart, they couldn’t really understand what we were into or what we were listening to. I think that energy of being different, being out of reach from the conventional — that’s what made that electronic scene so beautiful to me back then.
capsule collection designed by 032c, Maria Koch
DB: What is the most important message or feeling you hope visitors take away from stepping into this experience?
NH: Put your phone down.
MK: I would just say the same — put your phone down and give yourself the chance to listen again, and again, to a song. Honestly, I still do this. I love listening to a favorite track 10 or 12 times a day. Everyone around me gets annoyed, but I just want to be fully immersed. It’s intense. Even if it’s like elevator music, then I discover something new — another drum, another layer, another scenario.
All is Sound. All is Transformation – Maria Koch and Harry Nuriev | image © designboom
the curated CD library reflects the spirit of Berlin’s club culture and musical archives
a limited-time installation combining club culture, archives, and design
project info:
name: All is Sound. All is Transformation
artist: Harry Nuriev | @harrynuriev
collaborators: 032c | @032c and Telekom Electronic Beats | @electronicbeats
dates: July 01-08, 2025
opening hours: 11:00–19:00
location: 032c Workshop, Berlin, Germany
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