Can we improve acoustic environments by adding sound

Sound is central to the identity of a place, but is nonetheless a frequently neglected component in the design process. We believe that urban soundscape planning and product sound design has much to gain by collaborating with the artistic and humanistic fields of knowledge. Applying acoustics and perception psychology as well, the sound laboratory at Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design examined the domain of acoustic design in the research project ISHT – The Interior Sound Design of High-Speed Trains – in collaboration with, among others, train manufacturer Bombardier. Empirical data in this study is focused on train travel, but can easily be transposed to other contexts, such as public spaces. Methods for improving sonic experience in relation to criteria such as identity and specific needs were explored. Our thesis question was: How to create a comfortable and appealing environment by adding sounds (distributed via speakers)? The interdisciplinary research methods included field observations, listening tests, and quantitative data, as well as public exhibitions and collaborations with composers.Finansiär: Stiftelsen för Kunskap och Kompetens, The Knowledge foundation