On Urban Soundscapes
A series by: Aya Abdelfatah and Islam (Sam) Ibrahim
Noise, Sound, and Memories
Close your eyes and listen closely to your surrounding environment. Is it quiet? Noisy?
Start breaking down the sounds coming from each source. What feelings are they inducing? Are they happy? Sad? Are they invoking specific memories, or perhaps future aspirations?
While this may seem like an excerpt from a meditation session, it should be part of our daily routine. Sound has the power to trigger a plethora of memories and convey a multitude of experiences. Designers often focus on masking unwanted sounds, or what is deemed as “noise”, from the spaces they design.
As it seems, we have yet to overcome the negative connotation of noise and master the art of intentionally designing soundscapes. Through this approach, we can fully realize the opportunity lying in the positive effects of soundscapes on the human experience in space. In other words, we can ask ourselves the difficult design question: what does a space sound like?
The Role of Auditory Design
Sound is a spatial event which can add layers of experience when allowed to reflect, reverberate, and dissipate. The design profession is guilty of often privileging the visual over the auditory. We draw plans, we produce renders, and we design in colors and geometric patterns. Rarely do we hear about acoustics informing the design of a space, unless we focus on specific typologies such as concert halls and theaters.
Although sound and acoustics can be relatively easily controlled indoors, public realm design can benefit from the incorporation of sound and can provide a multitude of experiences based on naturally occurring factors in the space, such as the weather, occupants, time of day, and variety of uses.
Early Acoustic Design
Earlier designers did not have the technology we use today to overcome the issues of acoustics in space; they had to invent their own solutions. For example, the geometric form of the dome acts as a sound amplifier and hence was used in congregation halls and worship places where crowds gathered.
In outdoor spaces, water fountains were used in Persian gardens to create spaces with numerous rhythms caused by the flow of water and assisting in spiritual gratification.
Mapping Soundscapes
The good news is, places already have a valuable inventory of sounds “naturally” occurring every day. The Urban Soundscapes of the World project has started an open-source website to map the soundscapes of different cities. These sounds can be used as historical references, or even inspiration for future designs, similar to visual precedents often used at the early stages of projects.
There is a cultural richness engrained in the urban soundscapes of each city, or what is called a city’s acoustic profile. To name a few, the SkyTrain chime in Vancouver, the cotton candy vendor in Cairo, and the Radio taiso of Tokyo. Furthermore, there are universal sounds relating to time periods such as banging pots and pans to applaud healthcare workers during COVID-19 lockdown in many cities around the world.
Being able to intentionally channel these sounds can go a long way in the experience of the space.
Inclusivity through the Auditory Experience
Another important aspect of spatial sound design is inclusivity. Designing our cities for people with different abilities is imperative in creating inclusive and diverse cities with rich environments.
Vancouver recently installed access pedestrian signal (APS) push buttons that assist use auditory signals at crosswalks, signaling when it is safe to cross the street. While this is a great step to enhance the safety of pedestrians with visual impairments, there is room to improve the overall pedestrian experience above and beyond the safety aspect so that all residents of the city can enjoy it.
Sound of Space
Design for all the senses, particularly hearing, creates spaces with richer experiences. It leads our cities to be more inclusive, engaging, and intentional.
So next time when you are present in a space, listen closely to the surrounding sounds and try to determine which ones were intentionally picked out for you!
Urban Reflections is a series which sheds light on the degree of resilience of cities as revealed by the pandemic in a way that contributes to a constructive dialogue so that social justice prevails in the future of our urban life.
