Soundscape Architecture

Soundscape Architecture presents historical examples, design projects and art works related to the sonics of architectural spaces and landscapes.

This work grew out of our interest in listening to places that sponsor distinct sonic characteristics with specific and memorable identities. We have addressed this challenging design territory by beginning with the act of listening itself. We record the spaces, create new compositions from the recordings, draw (by hand and digitally) the sounds of these compositions, animate these drawings, and then create digital paintings as a memory of this process. We also present sonic installations, projects, and other exemplary art works as creative demonstrations that support the act of listening to the atmospheres of our natural and built environments.

Karen Van Lengen, FAIA, is an architect, artist, professor and former dean. Her recent work focuses on the sounds of iconic buildings and landscapes, by discovering methods to visually portray these sonic characteristics, in addition to designing architectural projects that deploy sound in the design process.