Lessons learning from successful projects in Soundscapes of outdoor spaces

Abstract

One oft he most successful projects within Soundscapes is the redevelopment oft he Nauener Platz in Berlin. Integrating the Soundscape approach from the beginning of the project enabled a horizontal, long-term dialog with the people in the area. The project that resulted was effectively guided by many participants, resulting in a unique solution for mitigating noise and creating a much-needed “backyard” for the local residents through an improved soundscape. Evaluation followed up confirms the long-term positive effect of the project. The temptation with this level of success is to apply the strategies from Nauener Platz wholesale to other locations and attempt to replicate its achievements. However, this would be a false promise, even at seemingly very similar sites. An instructive example is the Berlin Wall Memorial, which shares many physical attributes to the Nauener Platz. However, its political and historical layers provide a very different set. The paper will discuss the similarities and differences with regard to the ISO.