With my final project I’d like to find way how to translate relevant data about the city into understandable, clear and touching language for citizens. Urban environments and architecture are traditionally described in visual terms, but it is our sense of hearing that assists us in experiencing and navigating through the spaces we inhabit. Likewise, there is no space without sound and no sound without space. Sound is an essential part of social experience, and should be of the most concern to architects, planners and artists alike. This idea borrowed from Tuned City sounds challenging

During the history human were looking ways how to enhance hearing sense.  American Indians used to put ear on the ground to listen if flocks are coming. Japanese keep fish tanks which may report that earthquake is coming when human body is still unable to detect it. Stethoscope is another instrument which is used to determine sounds. I really liked it’s definition in Wikipedia:  an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins. In architectural language cities also have lung (green areas), heart (center), arteries and veins (infrastructure). What could be the instrument listen to the city health when human senses are too weak? And how it would sound?

I came up with idea to use Poblenou’s chimneys as huge stethoscopes. Characteristic constructions recall quarter’s industrial origins and remain part of the current urban landscape. Using them as art elements to listen musical compositions created on the basis of sonic sensors data. The only thing what could be visible is audio input to plug headphones. Low-frequency noises is an issue faced by big cities. Generated by turbines, industrial fans, compressors and other machinery it cause harmful side effects for human.

full documentation of project development is here