The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a 500 square-meter underground burial complex built in Malta around 2500 BC. Among the first Maltese UNESCO World Heritage sites, this space is three levels deep, with 2000 tons of stone removed from its subterranean chambers to replicate the temples above ground. Ancients entered a trance state deep in the chambers of the Oracle Room. Using their voices as instruments, the profound sound technology and acoustic properties of the space made the chanting voices underground reverberate in the temple chambers above.

Brian Haran’s grandfather was a first-generation Maltese immigrant. He came to the United States when he was a boy and didn’t speak English. Joseph Meli taught himself drafting and ultimately became an engineer for NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. Responsible for designing the Lunar Excursion Module landing gear, Joe and his peers etched their names into the legs of the LEM before liftoff. His name still sits on the moon today.

Hypogeum pays tribute to this heritage.