Recomposition of the urban sonic environment

Abstract

Acoustics‐related considerations are taken to be secondary in most of the design processes of public places. This fact always leads to an unpredictable noise and urban sonic environment around such spaces. Studies have shown the importance of the noise and the quality of the urban sonic environment in the social practice and in the daily use of public places. These places strongly mark the degree of dynamism of the urban structure of our cities and are often subjected to a very complex situation of noise nuisance. The main aim of the study is to introduce a source of noise that might have an effect of recomposing positively a deficient sonic environment of such places. This approach is also to try to restore the sound in its utilitarian and practical function and to articulate the perception of the spatial and temporal aspects of the public place. It could be an element of transforming urban noise into a peaceful soundscape. A fountain turned out to be that sonic source and it can be easily introduced in the urban environment around the public places. It is a sort of urban instrumentation used in order to recompose or requalify an urban noise environment.