Urban sound design – can we talk about it?

Abstract

This article intends to critically discuss noise-mapping as the predominant method for evalu- ation, communication and maintenance of urban acoustic space, as performed in a majority of urban spatial practices today. Discussing the common strategy for handling environmental sounds raises specific questions: How is it possible to extend the current way of managing urban acoustic space, and why should we do that? How can the integration of quantitative and qualitative methods for analysing urban acoustic space act as a complement to existing methods? Interdisciplinary strategies are required which directly focus upon the perspective and needs of design practitioners in architecture and urban planning. The article will also present an example of such an explorative strategy within the scope of the PhD project Urban Sound Design – methods for qualitative sound analysis, a practice-based project within the field of artistic research.