Flight, Fancy, and the Garden's Song

Abstract

“Flight, Fancy and the Garden's Song” describes the importance of natural sound from an aesthetic, pragmatic, and environmental viewpoint. The changes wrought by modern urban life, including the loss of habitat for sound-making fauna, the increase in noise caused by technology, and the distancing of people from natural processes are not consciously noticed by most individuals and are not compensated for by environmental designers. The soundscape is discussed, including such factors as keynotes or background sound and more easily identifiable soundmarks. Methods of describing and working with the audial characteristics of existing environments to preserve or change their particular character are presented. Various garden sounds are described in relation to their counterparts in nature. Insects, birds, water, and wind are portrayed as reasons for gardens to exist, not simply as design elements. Garden soundscape is discussed as part of a current shift in design away from an aesthetic based solely on visual attributes, and toward qualities which offer variety in sensual experience.