Electronic architecture: Historical perspectives, current thinking, and future implications for architectural acoustic design

Abstract

Few subjects in acoustics generate more controversy than electronic architecture, that is, the use of electronic tools to alter the acoustics of a performance space, church, rehearsal hall, or other facility. And yet, few advances in acoustics offer the promise of electronic architecture. This paper will trace the development of electronic architecture from the first tentative and highly creative experiments in the 1930s to the mature technologies that have evolved in recent years. What precipitated the development of electronic architecture? Who were the pioneers? How did the technology develop? And where do we stand today? Paralleling these technological advances has been an on-going philosophical debate. Is there ever a place for electronics in the concert hall or opera house? When and where should these systems be used? What obligations do acoustical design professionals have to performers? To the concert-going public? To the art of acoustical design? Finally, what does the continuing evolution of these techniques hold for the future of architectural acoustic design?