Reconstructing the Aural Heritage of the Historic Rochester Savings Bank

In cultural heritage preservation, visual and architectural aspects of heritage sites are emphasized while little attention has been given to sensory and acoustic features. Because human experience is holistic, the contribution of auditory information is significant. In fact, many built environments have been specifically designed and used for conveying particular auditory information. For example, concert halls and recording studios are constructed to create pleasing acoustics for musicians and audiences. In such buildings, acoustics translate to auditory information that can uniquely identify a space. Moreover, visual information is dominant for ‘informatic’ experiences, while auditory information has been strongly associated with the ‘emotional’ aspects of those experiences, as well as with communication properties. In convincing and meaningful renderings of virtual experiences, therefore, successful delivery of auditory importation is not supplementary, but essential