Of the thesis entitled:Aural Landscape: Composing an Urban Park
Abstract:
As
a
culture,
the
Western
World
has
placed
a
negative
stigma
on
noise,
which
has
lead
to
the
disregard
of
the
urban
soundscape.
Researchers
have
been
studying
and
theorizing
ways
of
understanding
the
urban
sound
environment
for
many
years,
adding
to
the
knowledge
of
listening.
This
thesis
aims
as
a
whole
to
act
as
a
general
tool
to
educate
the
public
on
the
urban
sound
environment
to
aid
in
dis-
criminate
listening.
Building
on
existing
research,
studies
and
theories
on
the
urban
sound
environment
it
explores
the
cities
inventory
of
sound
possibilities
from
a
psychological,
sociological
and
architectural
point
of
view
and
asks:
what
are
the
forms
of
constructed
space
that
shape
the
sound
opportunities
of
our
urban
environment?
Based on a review of the literature of soundscapes, aural architecture and sound waves and the exploration of precedents that explore sound installations and transcoding, multidisciplinary experiments were conducted involving sound, using quantitative tools such as acoustical software, frequency spectrums, soundclips, physical models, listening exercises, cymatics and mathematics. Findings from the experiments demonstrated new relationships between the urban sound environment and musical composition techniques.
This resulted in a final design study of Washington Square Park using a stochastic methodology from both an architect’s and com- poser’s point of view, resulting in a synthesis of layering that demonstrates the cultivation of previous research adding to the body of knowledge of our urban sound environments. Further reflection is done in the form of an essay on how sound research impacted the author’s psychological and sociological view not only as a designer but as a listener. This essay is a testimony to the significance of shifting our culture’s aural behaviour and encouraging continued research into our urban soundscapes.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Val Rynnimeri, University of Waterloo
Committee Members:
Jonathan
Tyrrell,
University
of
Waterloo
Marie-Paule
Macdonald,
University
of
Waterloo
External Reader:
David Lieberman
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Wednesday, December
18,
2019
at
12:00pm
in
2003
(Photo
Studio).
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.