Researchers at McGill University found that temporary sound installations in public spaces may help reduce noise pollution in areas of high urban density.
The study, “Shaping city soundscapes: In situ comparison of four sound installations in an urban public space,” was recently published in Landscape and Urban Planning. Working in co-operation with the City of Montreal, the researchers studied how sound installations could be used to enhance citizens’ relationships with public spaces amid the noise of the city.
“We believe that temporary sound installations, as a form of low-cost, small-scale, ephemeral interventions, could be added to the tactical urbanism tool kit and lead to the development and improvement of public spaces,” Catherine Guastavino, senior author of the article and a professor in McGill’s School of Information Studies, said in a recent press release.
Audiotopie, a collective of local sound artists, created four sound installations that played at different periods in 2018 and 2019 in a small park in the dense urban neighbourhood of Plateau Mont-Royal.
The installations featured different combinations of sounds: woodlands, seascapes, human voices and synthesizers. The researchers then surveyed 800 park users and found their experience was enhanced n the presence of all four installations, resulted in calmer and more pleasant soundscapes. Respondents also reported a decrease in how loud the other urban sounds felt.
The sound installations had a more positive effect when there was construction noise. The team also learned that while the installations can distract attention from negative sounds, such as traffic and air conditioning, they were also found to distract from positive sounds, such as birds and voices.
The study was conducted in a well-planned area, with a pre-existing sound environment that was already quite pleasant. The team reported it is unlikely that sound installations alone would tackle all noise problems in more exposed areas.
“We want people to think of sound not just as pollution, but as a resource to enjoy in the city,” said Valérian Fraisse, a PhD student at the Schulich School of Music and corresponding author on the study.
The research group is also working on raising awareness of the importance of integrating sound into urban planning, Fraisse said. Other Sounds in the City projects in Montreal can be accessed here.
