Project Hurrah! is an urban musical instrument designed by Karol Murlak, Danielle Begnaud, Kasia Michnowska, and Marzena Krupa. This playful and interactive installation is a celebration of the hundredth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and the United States.
The installation takes the form of a large-scale xylophone composed of stainless steel vertical tubes. When tapped consecutively with a drumstick, the tubes play the Polish birthday and anniversary song, Sto Lat. Users don't need to have any previous musical knowledge to experience the joy of playing music. The tune, known to every Pole and some Americans, recalls universal themes of fun, friendship, and love.

Design Team

Karol Murlak - Industrial Design Professor at Pratt Institute

Danielle Begnaud - Master of Industrial Design Student at Pratt Institute

Kasia Michnowska - Fine Arts Undergraduate Student at The Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts

Marzena Krupa - Designer

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez

To commemorate this special occasion, the team of Industrial Design students and faculty from Pratt Institute and The Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts, in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., created an art object that aims to capture and commemorate feelings of friendship and joy shared between Poles and Americans through music.

Project Hurrah's purpose is to show the relationship between the two countries on the human and artistic level and to inspire the act of collaborative creation. Alluding to both the Polish forest and New York skyscrapers, the vertical tubes allow the participant to feel enclosed in a space while still being connected to the greater landscape. The user's circular movement encouraged by the structure is reminiscent of traditional Polish dance circles, provoking a literal and metaphorical connection between participants.

Located in Times Square between 45th Street and 46th Street on 7th Avenue, the interactive exhibit will be on display during NYCxDesign through Design Pavilion fromFriday May 10 at 3pm to Wednesday May 22. Come and play your "Sto lat" to Polish-American Friendship!

Learn More About This Projectx