Transferring sound-related expertise into urban planning and design practice on a project-by-project basis

Abstract

This article explores the transfer of sound-related expertise from academic and research contexts into urban design and planning practice. This is a complex task, and even in projects with a specific focus on sound and noise, good design intentions are difficult to sustain through multiple project stages, from strategic definition and master planning through to the building permit. Planners and developers must adhere to their interpretation of best practice, while such knowledge is rarely on hand. Similarly, noise regulations provide little assurance that unfavourable decisions made in early planning stages can be rectified later on. Accordingly, the acoustic environment remains a fragmented topic, and achieving sound- and health-related objectives is challenging. This article outlines appropriate formats through which urban sound planners can support planners and developers using an approach of communication, analysis, walking, and securing value and legibility. Drawing from the authors' experience, this approach can support various urban practitioners in becoming aware of how their work both consciously and unconsciously shapes the urban acoustic environment and determines how people engage within public spaces. The article questions how to curate sound-related knowledge transfer on a contextual, project-by-project basis and illustrates what such a procedure might look like for projects that evolve over several years.