Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

When visiting Scaniaparken in Malmö you have the possibility of listening to music streaming out of grass-covered hills. In Helsingborg children can compose their own music and play for their friends on the playground. On a square in Nacka Strand you can hear birds singing in the quiet intervals of traffic. What the places have in common
are that they all contain sound installations. All are examples of places where the experience of space can be enhanced by the interpreted sound.

For the most part sound in landscape architecture is discussed in terms of noise and disturbance. Sound is often something you try to disguise and screen off. The purpose of this paper is to highlight those places where sound is a part of the design. By studying and analyzing existing sound installations in Sweden, this paper aims to describe how designed sounds are used and can be used in landscape architecture.

The paper discusses the definition of the term sound installation. Further the results of a nationwide inventory of sound installations are presented. In order to follow up
the inventory, some of the sites have been documented and the audio experience is described and reflected upon. Finally a compilation of the role and function of sound
installations within the profession of landscape architecture is presented.

The inventory presents a total of 51 existing sound installations in the country. The range of the various installations are wide and they consist of artwork, playground equipment and speakers playing birds´ singing. The inventory also presents a variety of planned, pre-existing and previous temporary sound installations.

The experiences from the site visits are presented to increase the knowledge of how landscape architects are able to use sound installations in their work. The well functioned sound installations are used as good examples and a critical discussion is held about those which are perceived as less good.

If sound installations are to function at their best, the sound must consist of a range of variation. A strategic location and the correctly adjusted volume can contribute to an attractive outdoor environment. Sound installations can function as playground equipment or as decoration. They may also have the function to mask and reduce noise and disturbing sounds.

The possibilities are great and there is a lot of room for many more sound installations in our outdoor environment. Using the expertise right sound installations will contribute to a better sound environment in the future.