This clip illustrates the soundscape in Sanbō-in, Kyoto, as experienced on a spring day in 2018. A series of three waterfalls adds an atmospheric presence towards the left side of the stereo image. To the right, a garden worker is swooshing fallen leaves. As part of the soundscape, there are also birds singing, frogs croaking and garden visitors talking, some of these sounds are “borrowed” from the woodland outside the garden.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Reflection and resonance in narrow alleys reinforces local sounds while surrounding noise is excluded. The alleys also sound different depending on the shape.