September 30 – October 1, 2010 Stockholm, Sweden September 30 – October 1, 2010 Stockholm, Sweden Welcome to Stockholm The First Ever European Green Capital Noise is a serious health problem in Europe. Road traffic is the predominant source of exposure in urban areas. As a basic measure in fighting noise, the City of Stockholm has monitored noise pollution since the early 1970s. Information about the current status of noise pollution is available in a data base, also containing information on protective actions and noise reduction measures. Our work against noise is one of the reasons why Stockholm was the first city to be awarded the European Green Capital title. To be successful in the future in delimiting noise exposure, more attention is needed to prevention of noise at the source, as well as to the city’s planning process. The City of Stockholm has taken part in research showing that people’s judgments of the soundscape in their homes greatly depends on factors like access to a ‘quiet’ side of the house or access to a ‘quiet’ sitting-out area. In addition, access to a ‘quiet’ recreational area within reasonable walking distance is of importance. This research shows that cities need to work in several ways, and not using noise abate- ment as the only strategy. Soundscape management can be a useful tool to achieve a more attractive and human city. We are proud to be a partner of this conference and to contribute in the exchange of experience between dif- ferent professions, and in introducing the soundscape approach to architects and urban planners. Gunnar Söderholm Head of the Environment and Health Administration City of Stockholm © COPYRIGHT the individual contributors, 2011 Citation: Axelsson, Ö. (Ed.). (2011). Designing Soundscape for Sustainable Urban Development. Stockholm, Sweden: City of Stockholm. Designing Soundscape for Sustainable Urban Development ISBN: 978-91-85125-42-5 Distributed by the Environment and Health Administration, City of Stockholm. City of Stockholm Environment and Health Administration P.O. Box 38024 SE-100 64 Stockholm Sweden The term ’soundscape’—the acoustic equivalent to ‘landscape’—is relatively new to many. The present report summarises the results of the conference Contents Designing Soundscape for Sustainable Urban Development, which was organised in order to introduce the soundscape approach to architects and urban planners who have little or no previous experience in this field. Like the conference, the present report seeks to inspire and provoke new thoughts in order to challenge the visual dominance in architecture. In order to reach this objective I invited among the finest soundscape experts in the world to present their thoughts and case studies for others to follow. By the present report they provide their contributions in written form for those who Designing Soundscape for Sustainable Urban Development Östen Axelsson ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 could not participate in the conference. I am convinced that these thoughts will change the way you perceive the built environment, as well as the way Acoustic Design of Outdoor Space you think about and listen to sounds. The report makes evident that the Lex Brown ................................................................................................................................................................ 13 soundscape is an essential environmental resource. Acoustic Design for Early Stage Urban Planning Bert De Coensel and Dick Botteldooren .............................................................................................................. 17 Östen Axelsson Italian Sonic Gardens: An Artificial Soundscape Approach for New Action Plans Conference Organiser and Editor Gaetano Licitra, Lorenzo Brusci and Mattia Cobianchi ...................................................................................... 21 Essential Soundscape Concepts for Architects and Urban Planners Gary W. Siebein ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 Dominant Contexts, Affecting Perception of Urban Soundscape in Open Spaces Jin-Yong Jeon ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 Towards an Aural Urbanity? Maria Leus .............................................................................................................................................................. 35 The Zadar Sea Organ Hrvoje Domitrovic and Kristian Jambrosic ........................................................................................................... 39 Planning for the Soundscape of Transportation Martin Gold ............................................................................................................................................................ 42 Urban and Regional Planning: Introducing the Soundscape Approach Max Dixon .............................................................................................................................................................. 48 Quiet Urban Areas in Rotterdam: Enhancing Soundscapes? Miriam Weber ......................................................................................................................................................... 52 Sonotope Analysis: Characterising Sonic Landscapes for the Swedish Transport Administration Per Hedfors and Rikke Thiirmann Thomsen ........................................................................................................ 56 Smell and the Urban Environment Victoria Henshaw, Trevor J. Cox and Andrew Clark .............................................................................................. 61 The Challenge of Sustainable Urban Development in Third World Countries Hooshmand Alizadeh ............................................................................................................................................. 65 Partners and Sponsors ................................................................................................................................. 70 Soundscape has a great potential in urban planning, and there is a strong need for large-scale case studies that may inspire and provide a basis for new approaches. The path to implementation is via applied research in urban planning, in close cooperation with local stakeholders. Östen Axelsson Conference Organiser Designing Soundscape for Sustainable Urban Development The conference Designing Soundscape for Sus- Gunnar Söderholm, Head of the Environment and tainable Urban Development was organised in Health Administration, City of Stockholm, opened Stockholm, September 30 – October 1, 2010. The the conference and welcomed the participants to conference was part of the City of Stockholm’s Stockholm. In his introduction he explained why official programme as the first European Green the European Commission designated Stockholm Capital. as the first European Green Capital. The purpose of the conference was to assemble The term ‘soundscape’ refers to the acoustic practitioners and researchers in architecture, ur- environment at a place, like a residential area or a ban planning, acoustics, noise, and related disci- city park, as perceived and understood by people, in plines, to discuss how soundscape research may be implemented in urban planning and design in context. It is the acoustic equivalent to ‘landscape’, Europe. and includes all sound sources, wanted as well as unwanted. Photography by Jin-Yong Jeon Jin-Yong by Photography Gunnar Söderholm, opening the conference. 9 Photography by Jin-Yong Jeon Jin-Yong by Photography Jeon Jin-Yong by Photography Professor Jian Kang, Chair of the COST Action on Soundscape. Keynote speaker, Professor Lex Brown. Professor Jian Kang from the University of Shef- tion between culture and environment in order to in relationship to well-being and the build envi- conducted in the form of five parallel workshops. field, UK, presented the COST Action TD0804 strengthen the conditions for sustainable urban ronment. The project provoked a lively debate in These were held on the second day, and focused Soundscape of European Cities and Landscapes development. Particular focus is on cultural and local media. Understandably, as for most ground- concrete cases of soundscape planning that may including the various activities and disciplines social aspects, as well as, the architecture’s role. breaking projects, complains were raised even be- form the basis for new working models. The involved in this large European network of re- fore the work was completed. workshops explored opportunities and best prac- searchers and practitioners. Using present examples from Stockholm City— tices in: including a model and auralization of the future Stockholm Virtual Soundscape Tour The keynote speaker, Professor Lex Brown from traffic situation in the “Slussen”-area, and an au- by Stockholm Noise 1. Urban Recreational Areas Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, intro- ralization of the acoustic environment at the city The third activity of the afternoon was a virtual 2. Urban Open Spaces duced the conference’s topic: Soundscape and park Mariatorget—Architecture for the Senses soundscape tour conducted by music producer 3. Urban and Regional Planning Urban Planning.