LUXURY MAGAZINE TENDANCES
Reconnecting with our soundscape
Fuelled by the boom in slow travel and cultural tourism , sound experiences are multiplying all around the world . Although some people yearn for simple quiet , others appreciate what sound can add to the experience of a place .
In a few clicks , you can explore the Périgord through its soundscapes on Radio Dordogne . The rich collection of audio tracks introduces listeners to a bison farmer and a miller , and plays them the bleating of the goats at Auriac , the sounds of bats as they ‘ dance ’, and the traditional song of the Gabariers – local boatmen . In Sweden , the Stockholm Sounds app offers a unique guide to sound hunting in the city . On sonicwonders . org , acoustic engineering professor Trevor Cox lists places where sound is part of the experience - from the whispering gallery of Gol Gumbaz in India to the singing sand dunes in Morocco . In Mauritius , a podcast by My Moris uses the recorded sounds of an old shop in the Vieux Grand Port to tell the story of its owners .
Unequal to noise
Encountering sound as an “ experience ” sadly remains the preserve of a lucky few . The noisiest neighbourhoods are often poor ones , where most people can ' t afford an hour of respite within the hushed rooms of a spa , let alone a hike in Ecuador . Urban planner Antonella Radicchi is among those who want to democratise access to peace and quiet ; her collaborative , crowd-sourced application , Hush City , allows users to identify peaceful havens in their own city . Nonetheless , despite the best efforts of organisations , citizens and city planners , there is no sign of a decrease in decibels in our everyday environment : our last defence against intrusive sounds is probably still inner silence .
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