The soundscapes in our cities have arisen without much attention from designers, and indeed are given very little attention by most of those who live in them. Amongst the sounds we ignore are ones aggressive enough to damage our health. We have all learned, against our better interests, to be unconsciously selective in what we hear.

But suppose you find some technical aid which, for a time, gives you creative control over the soundscapes you hear, the power to change their sonic composition. Wouldn’t this have a profound effect on the way you listen?

In this vertical studio students experimented with augmented listening. They designed and made portable chambers which modified the sound entering them - creating a local zone from which they could modulate the surrounding sound world.

Brief (PDF)

A Vertical Studio for first and second year students at Welsh School of Architecture collaboration by Davidson and Fedeski.