Revoicing the striated Soundscape (2012) – Jordan Lacey
“Revoicing the Striated Soundscape”, Melbourne, is a project that brings life to air conditioners and provides them the ability to communicate with people passing by. The soundscape of the city, constantly affected by the dull buzz from those machines, is hereby given a more attractive voice. A sense of dialogue between the city and its citizens is thus created, and a disturbing noise is turned into art.
This clip starts with a section of Melbournes general soundscape. Read more
Masking 2
Sheaf Square, Sheffield. Cutting Edge Sculpture
Sheaf Square outside Central Station, Sheffield, is a former car park. In 2006 it was transformed into a square available to pedestrians, and the remake included several water installations. One of these, the long Cutting Edge sculpture, screens off the traffic noise and in addition provides masking water sounds. The sculpture also breaks the visual contact with the road. Read more
Suikinkutsu
Excess water from a water basin, chozubachi, drops into a hidden cavity underground. The encounter with the water surface creates a sound which resonates and brings a musical tone. Suikinkutsu is a centuries old tradition in Japan and it can be found in several zen gardens, this video clip is from Enkō-ji in Kyoto.
“Soundscape Malmö” was a Movium Partnership project carried out in 2010-2011. A vegetation covered wall, working as a noise screen, was built in S:t Knuts square, nearby a busy street. Inside the room speakers played different “countryside sounds”, and participants in the experiment took part in a series of surveys.
Up to 68 wagons loaded with iron ore are to be braked downhill. Each wagon is equipped with a brake mechanism and the heavy sparkling noise can be heard over large parts of the city, in some places dominant and in others as an atmospheric spice. The sound is a powerful story about trains, iron, industry, and the heart of the region. The target for the train is the major port of Narvik from where the ore is to be shipped.
Masking the E10 in Abisko
In this clip two cars passes, but the sound from the stream masks them almost completely.
Iron ore mine in Kirunavaara
How does the iron ore mine in Kirunavaara sound?
Underneath the mountain in Kiruna a whole city is hidden, with 40 miles of roads, paths, museums, restaurants, cinema and a café.
The sound recording is from about 500 meters below the top level.
Comparison of traffic solutions
A comparison of car sounds out of two different traffic solutions on Adolf Hedins väg in Kiruna. In the case where the performance allowed a higher speed, the sound was not only higher, but also performed a more dissonant character. It also drew attention because the sound moved faster.
Traffic noise at Slussen, Stockholm
Traffic noise near Slussen, Stockholm.
In addition to a high decibel level, there is also a somewhat dissonant tone, characteristic for traffic noise from cars at high speed. Another negative feature is the lack of harmonious rhythm and variation (compare: more natural sounds such as water and rustling leaves).
Oak and pine
Oak and pine. Recorded in Hågadalen, Uppsala.
Playground, Kungsgatan, Malmö
Documentation of a playground – a sonotop.
A wide green boardwalk dominates Kungsgatan in Malmö. This is an example of how broader transit routes might look if you choose to deprioritize traffic in future cities. A greener city provides many benefits, including acoustical ones, since it brings out the local and more relevant sounds.
Walking and cycling tunnel
The reflections of the tunnel creates a strong boost and a clear, almost musical tone when the bikes passes. The sound response provides an interaction with the architecture; you can often hear children and others try the acoustics with different exclamations. How does concrete sound?
Water organ of Villa d’este, Italy
The Renaissance villa “Villa d’este” outside of Rome is famous for its more than five hundred fountains, water games and water surprises, all of which are mechanically driven by old, good engineering spirit. Water is led by gravity through underground tunnels and led to the various installations who needs nothing more than this natural pressure to function. The pipes in the water organ are also driven by the weight/pressure of the water.
Villa d’este: Pirro Ligorio and Alberto Galvani 1550. Read more
Organ and hydraulics: Claude Venard och Thomaso Chiruchi
Boulders
Large stone altar in one piece, from which water drops and flows.
