Sonic Urbanism Studio_L28 18-19

The undeveloped open space along the Western ring railway L28 has long been marginalized in Brussels planning processes. Thanks to its natural, historical and ecological richness the urban edge area is an excellent research object for sonic urbanism. Within the context of public park/place development along the Brussels railway line L28, sonic vibrations are dominantly discussed as a nuisance to suppress. Urban studies increasingly recognize sonic vibrations as a medium for community building and political action. Recent research in urban sound studies focuses on how collective listening practices help to develop a critical ear for urban space, thus contributing to productive reflection on future spatial plans. The search for alternative strategies for engagement, critical and spatial design is supported and inspired by the work of artists and musicians making new aesthetic experiences and new ways of (physical) mobilization developments possible. Understanding an urban area in transition as a negotiable atmosphere of sonic and vibrational possibilities, encourages a revision of the role and position of sound and vibration in the design of transitory processes for public railway park/places. Based on (pro-) active involvement in design and participatory processes for transitional public railway park/places in Brussels, our research project questions pre- established thought patterns on (sonic) vibrations and urban development. Through hyper-contextual urban sound design, we will explore methods and tools for working with (sonic) vibrations in the design of future railway park/places.

This studio is linked to the following PhD Project by Caroline Claus, Supervised by Prof. Dr. Burak Pak and Peter Cusack, funded by KU Leuven FLOF Funds project link