Polyphonies, dissonances, and rhytms: listening in order to build cities

Abstract

This paper aims to bring together the fields of Sound Studies and Urban Space, from the characterization of the concept of acoustic environment as an intrinsic element of the city, influenced by concrete space and also capable of reconfiguring its spatial relationships. An acoustic environment is deemed to act through different aspects that affect listening relationships and, as a result, the way the city is apprehended. This article focuses primarily on understanding more direct relational aspects between sound and space, caused by the movement and influence of the built environment, and subsequently elaborate on the relationships between the acoustic environment and listening, and finally the relationships made possible by the use of sound interfaces.