A Morning at Gantry

Honestly I never really paid much attention to sound in a landscape, but the more I thought about it the more I appreciated it. I think a lot of sounds can come off as offensive in the city, whether it be loud music or a passing train or a ferry horn. For me, these noises have led to a desensitization of most sounds. However, after today I have realized that this can significantly take away from the experience of a place.

​This morning I found myself closing my eyes to take in the sounds of the Gantry parks. Birds were chirping, people were chatting in the distance, and the water was gently crashing on the shoreline. It was quite the contrast to the 45 minutes spent in a subway prior to being in the park.

​Later that day, at the Gowanus Canal, I closed my eyes and soaked up the sound again. The water was making strange bubbling noises that were so fun and pleasant. Without this assignment I might have noticed this sound, but I certainly don't think I would have appreciated it.

​Thinking about how sound affects a space is big. The industrial waterfronts visited today provided sound oasis from the constantly obtrusive noises of the streets. After today I realized how important it is to be aware of this sense and how it contributes or takes away from a place.