Monocle's The Urbanist podcast explores urban acoustic ecology to unveil the sonic signature of the coronavirus pandemic, the Greek island of Corfu, and Vienna streetscapes.
Close your eyes and listen to a city street.
Depending on the setting, you may hear a lush acoustic environment or the everpresent lulling hum of resting infrastructure. Each city soundscape is a unique, capricious aural footprint.
A recent episode of Monocle's The Urbanist podcast looks at soundscapes in the built environment, exploring what there is to learn from the sounds of cities.
John Levack Drever, professor of acoustic ecology and sound art at Goldsmiths, University of London, is interested in drawing insight from city soundscapes and understanding the effects of urban sound on living beings both inside and outside of cities. Drever considers acoustic ecology and the study of soundscapes to be more holistic than the study of acoustics, allowing for a more qualitative understanding of sounds and sound-makers.
"Disciplines like acoustics are very focused on sound pressure levels and issues of noise. Acoustic ecology is interested in the quality of sounds, what they mean, all the sounds in a space, and also the hearers—all the people who are listening and sound-making," explains Drever.
Listen to the podcast to hear a series of recordings from the same location in London's Beauchamp Place from 1928 as well as before and after the coronavirus lockdown. Also featured are sounds from Erimitis on the Greek island of Corfu, "a 500 acre biodiverse spot of land with its own sound identity," and Vienna's shifting soundscape.
FULL STORY: Sound and the City
From Paris to Portland: The 15-Minute City Goes Mainstream
Raising the bar on the 20-minute neighborhood model, cities around the world are embracing the appeal of the 15-minute city during the coronavirus pandemic.
How the Pandemic Is Reshaping Ideas of the 'Smart City'
Accelerated investment in smart city technologies presents increased opportunity for connection and data-driven decision making, so long as cities can avoid the common pitfalls of implementation.
Recording the Quiet of Cities During the Pandemic
The usual sounds of the city have subsided, replaced by birds and quiet that at times can be eery and unsettling.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)