3. Critical Urban Futures Sensorium: Sound

Organisers:

Vera Karina Gebhardt Fearns – Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Andreas Schmitt – TU Darmstadt, Germany

Details:

Media Architecture often focuses on creating solutions that trigger our visual sense. The perception we have about the urban environment is however influenced by factors that affect all our senses. In this workshop we will focus on our auditory sense and explore future possibilities of sound and media architecture.

Noise is seen as a major issue for discomfort and diseases in urban areas. Currently, more than half of the population is living in urbanised areas, which at the same time means that half of the population is affected by noise pollution, and new technological visions will likely increase noise pollution in urban areas. At the same time, sound can be seen as something very site-specific, something that describes the particular identity of a place, and can evoke feelings of belonging.

This friction will form the starting point of the full-day workshop, which will introduce participants to the principles of Critical and Speculative Design, and will focus specifically on media architecture and urban sound. Participants will be introduced to analytical and experimental tools and forms of practice that enhance a critical reflection about the present of smart city developments and its possible future impacts.

Participant Requirements:

  • Participants are invited to bring tools and materials they feel comfortable ideating, sketching and designing.
  • Please let us know in advance if you have any physical issues around participating in a guided walk.
  • Full attendance is required.
  • The workshop will be held in English.
  • The workshop is open to anyone interested in advancing their understanding of scenario techniques and speculative design and sound/noise. No specific knowledge of either media architecture or sound studies or speculative design is needed.