Exploring the sound and spatial dimension

An experience of conscious listening in the in-between spaces of the former El Campito Health and Rest Home in San José.

Abstract

This article addresses the phenomenon of sound in intermediate spaces through an exercise of conscious listening that evokes memory and atmosphere of a place. In order to contribute to research and creative works that involve sound and space, it is necessary to identify concepts about sound perception from different listening modes, connect them to a specific space and offer an experience focused on sound. To achieve this, three types of approach were developed, involving a frame of reference, an analysis of the elements and types of spaces and immersion in sound experience. The first section presents a frame of reference, providing key concepts about sound character and modes of listening. The second section justifies conditions offered by intermediate spaces and selection criteria for the case study: El Campito de San José, located on a campus of the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. The third section describes the fieldwork, testimonies and technical requirements used in sound recordings necessary for the composition of an electroacoustic piece. Conceptual criteria, data obtained from the site, and the sound experience of the electroacoustic piece described in this document transcend textual and visual content, offering a sound experience that reflects the effect of sound on perception and memory of space.