Acoustic urban design

Cities attract many people because of the wide range of opportunities they offer. This creates problems when the existing systems and structures threaten to overload. Therefore, the sustainable design of urban living spaces is and will remain a top social task.

Towns and cities have to strike a balance between the needs of society and individuals, which tend to clash and coincide with one another. Acoustic urban design has to deal with an unrestrained demand for mobility, increasing urban density and many other factors. At the same time, the susceptibility of urban infrastructures to noise is also determined by historical developments and decisions.

Today, it is all the more important to take a look at the future of acoustic urban design. The aim is to establish a high quality of acoustics everywhere as a perceptible environmental quality and to integrate acoustic concerns into urban design processes. With the initiative "Acoustic Urban Design" we want to bring together the aspects and stakeholders involved in these processes in order to supply up-to-date information, communicate facts, as well as to present sound findings and practicable aids and promote investments in new technologies.

Symposium "Acoustic Urban Design"

On the 23rd and 24th of July 2015, the interdisciplinary symposium "Acoustic Urban Design" was held at Fraunhofer IBP, bringing together many of the players and aspects involved in these processes. The state government Noise Protection Commissioner, State Secretary Gisela Splett, opened the event. This was followed by further contributions on urban planning and research on noise impact, on elements of urban architecture and the design of urban areas, and on citizen participation and urban sound. The venue also provided exceptional listening experiences. Over 100 people attended the event and were able to experience the tranquility of an acoustic open space and a final urban chord on the institute’s own research organ.

 

Partners

The organizers would like to thank the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for its kind and valuable support. The following partners supported the event.