The symposium asked what it means to think about sound through an ecological framework, and about ecology through a sonic framework. It explored how urban design has shaped ecologies of sound, but also how the sonic agency of non-human life exceeds and disturbs what can be planned. Should green spaces be considered quiet zones, as they are in urban sound policy, when this imaginary is disturbed by the vibrant sonics of non-human life? Are the sounds of infrastructure and technology part of this ecological vitality, or themselves disturbances to it? How can refuge from sonic disturbance be designed if we think beyond silence as an acoustic ideal?

Read ‘Urgency is Not Always Loud’: a response to the symposium by John Bingham-Hall

Jacek Smolicki – Technologies and Techniques of Deterrent Listening. On Ecotones of Białowieża Forest

The talk focuses on past, present and future soundscapes of Białowieża Forest, an ancient ecosystem located at the border of Poland and Belarus recently highlighted due to the political stand-off between the two countries and their violence against migrants crossing the forest. The talk brings attention to how various forms of sonic and listening techniques are mobilized and immobilized in and around the forest, in order to exert control over its vulnerable ecosystems of humans and other species. Discussion moderated by Gascia Ouzounian.

Panel I: Sensing more-than-human soundscapes. Chaired by John Bingham-Hall

Ella Finer – Acoustic Commons and the Wild Life of Sound

Drawing on her ongoing work, thinking through what a commons is in sonic terms, Ella will briefly illustrate a productive tension--some necessary agitations--across the idea of the commons and the idea of the wild. Even discussing such terms necessitates definition, some boundaries drawn around meaning; who makes the boundaries of the commons, and for whom? 

Catherine Clover – Languaging with the birds of King’s Cross station
Sound and location are deeply intertwined for birds as for all species including ourselves. In advance of her workshop on Thursday, Cath will discuss her work on participatory voicing.

Alex de Little – Tentacular Listening

Alex will discuss ideas around Tentacular Listening, an extended listening and reading walk that engages cross-pollinating practices of collective reading and extended listening.

Maan Barua & Mriganka Madhukaillya – Amphibious: three surrounds

In this lecture performance Mriganka Madhukaillya and Maan Barua aim to formulate a different optic and account of urban life to those on record in mainstream theory. From an ongoing discussion they develop the concept of the amphibious – or life (bios) in its surrounds (amphi-) – to delineate the space-times and practices of urban habitation within and beyond capture. Discussion moderated by John Bingham-Hall

Panel II: Designing just sonic ecologies. Chaired by Gascia Ouzounian

Nathalie Harb – Silent Room: designs for sonic justice

Nathalie will discuss ideas around Silent Room, exploring what it means to design structures offering access to sonic rest and retreat for those most affected by the city's noise. The project has been evolving since 2017 as a series of public space interventions, and its fourth version commissioned by SONCITIES will be installed at LJ Works in London throughout June.

Sarah Lappin – Quiet Rooms in Belfast: An Architectural Design Project in Undergraduate Education

The paper details a history of sound + design projects at Queen’s University. Inspired by Nathalie Harb, the most recent project asked students to consider sound and their environment, culminating in a design for an "Urban Quiet Room" in two of Belfast's loudest public spaces.

Ellie Ratcliffe – The value of nature's sounds for psychological wellbeing

Ellie will discuss findings from past and current projects regarding benefits of nature sounds (especially birdsong) for psychological wellbeing, including the ability to recover from everyday stress and fatigue, and implications for urban planning.

Adriana Cobo Corey – Maintenance Joy

In this presentation Adriana will critically inspect the impact maintenance labour has on iconic public spaces, using projects tailored to Granary Square in King’s Cross as examples. She will ask: Who maintains public spaces? And what are the intersections between maintenance, ethics and joy?   

Closing remarks and conversation chaired by Diana Ibáñez López