Landscape Acoustics

Abstract

Landscape Acoustics introduces an integrated design approach that connects the acoustic qualities of environments with the spatial and material concepts of landscape architecture. The course explores how sound interacts with both human perception and ecological dynamics. Students learn to understand, analyze, and design landscapes through their sonic dimension.

Objective

Students develop a foundational understanding of sound in outdoor environments—its physical behavior, perceptual impact, and ecological and social significance. The course fosters awareness of acoustics as an essential dimension of environmental design, influencing human wellbeing as well as the vibrational and communicative processes that sustain soils, vegetation, and biodiversity. Students become familiar with the concepts of acoustic ecology and urban soundscape studies, learning to relate them to contemporary landscape architectural practice.

Content

Landscape Acoustics provides a holistic framework for listening to, interpreting, and designing with sound in landscape architecture. The course addresses the physical principles of sound generation and propagation; the perceptual and cultural dimensions of listening; and the ecological and social roles of sound and vibration within habitats, materials, and cities. Attentive listening is introduced and practiced as a fundamental environmental skill. Through the study of acoustic ecologies and urban soundscapes, students explore how sound reveals spatial form, material composition, and ecological interaction across both natural and anthropogenic contexts. Examples from diverse landscapes and historical periods illustrate how sound and acoustics shape the identity and atmosphere of places, reflecting not only their physical constellations but also their sociocultural contexts. Acoustic quality is approached as a key factor in the spatial and experiential character of public open spaces—not merely as the reduction of unwanted noise, but as a resource for wellbeing, diversity, and inclusivity that can be actively designed, protected, and made accessible. Practical workshops and exercises provide hands-on experience with field recording, sound analysis, and spatial sound design methods. Listening sessions and soundwalks at the beginning of the semester enhance students’ sensitivity to acoustic environments and serve as a foundation for a site-specific semester project: the design of a 3D sonic landscape scenario supported by written and visual documentation. The course concludes with oral presentations and a collective discussion of the projects. A detailed handout with the course programme will be distributed during the first session.

Resources