Mapping the architectural sound space

In the research report Hoor de Hofbogen, which Soundtrackcity compiled in collaboration with Leiden University and on behalf of the Municipality of Rotterdam, maps the architectural sound space of the future Hofbogenpark.

In (urban) environments there is always interaction between the space’s construction and the way it’s heard. The positioning of buildings, the detailing of facades and material choices partly determine what a place will sound like. A passing car sounds different in a windowless, narrow alley than it does in a wide shopping street or in a park-like avenue with lots of greenery. The material conditions articulate the sounds present. These conditions are not simply given, but often designed by people. In this sense, the city’s architecture can be seen as a huge, multi-faceted instrument that is played day and night. The Hofbogen as an instrument – what does that sound like? The report describes the opportunities for the architectural sound design of the future Hofbogenpark.