Stefano-Franscini-Platz

The first place is Stefano-Franscini-Platz, specifically on a concrete table, 15 meters from Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse. From this road, you can hear traffic noise at more or less regular intervals, due to the passage of buses. The intensity of the sounds varies depending on the size of the bus (whether it’s articulated or not) and its type (Zurich public transport or ETH Link). Moreover, the sound changes depending on the direction the bus is going. When some buses brake, the tires screech, producing a particularly high-pitched noise. On this road, you can also hear the sound of bicycle pedals.

This square is also filled with concrete tables and benches. Since the weather was pleasant, most of the tables were occupied. Sometimes, you can make out conversations in English or German, but most of the time, there’s just an indistinct hum of people talking. Certain sounds stand out, such as the crinkling of sandwich paper, the unfolding of aluminum foil, the opening of an aluminum can, the screeching of Velcro, or the rustling of a bag against a jacket. The ground is covered with gravel and fallen leaves, and you can hear the footsteps of people, as well as the crunching of the gravel underfoot.

Opposite, there is a paved area that people walk across, their steps echoing more deeply and distinctly. In that area, there is also a food truck, from which the sound of coins clinking can sometimes be heard.

Other sounds appear more randomly and are less localized: someone running, a light breeze, an airplane passing overhead, and distant hammering of metal.

Altstetterplatz

The second place is a bus stop, with a road behind me. A square about thirty meters across stretches in front, with a lot of foot traffic leading to the underpass that provides access to the platforms. The square is paved, surrounded by relatively tall buildings, and there are five trees about fifteen meters tall scattered around.

It’s raining, and the sound of the rain is loud and continuous. Traffic on the road is also heavy. You can hear different types of vehicles: buses, cars, and a few trucks, with the sounds of tires screeching, brakes, and accelerations. The buses make louder noises as they stop at the bus stop, and the sound of their doors opening can be heard. Occasionally, a car horn blares.

The screeching of a train braking on the tracks can also be heard at regular intervals. People crossing the square produce intermittent, less persistent noises: footsteps, people running to catch a train, rolling suitcases, or bicycles. Occasionally, you hear a phone ringing.

Other sounds related to waiting for a bus or train also appear: conversations, laughter, a video being played aloud on a speaker, a bag being dropped heavily on a bench, a can being opened, or the sound of an umbrella unfolding.

Most emergent sounds: The hum of people talking and the sound of rain.
Most catchy sounds: The sound of cans opening and aluminum foil crinkling.
Most likely overheard sounds: The buses stopping.

Emotional state and overall perception of the situation :

In the first situation, the hammer blows echoed at a rather high frequency, which produced an unpleasant feeling. This sensation was also amplified because the sound was distant, and you couldn’t see where it was coming from. Despite the noise of people nearby, a silence was felt when the hammering stopped. The hum of people around me quickly made me feel a sense of confinement, as it surrounded me on all sides. In the second situation, the sound of the rain was heavy and made the atmosphere rather sad, even though this feeling was also due to the absence of sunlight and the rain itself. The other sounds that interrupted the rain seemed almost cheerful to me.

 Sound volume, frequency, and context and emotional responses :

High-frequency sounds are unpleasant, and their cessation brings relief and a feeling of silence, despite the ambient noise. The volume of a sound is not a decisive factor when considered individually. Cars and buses produced a loud but short sound. It was rather the repetition of these sounds that caused some discomfort. The context also plays an important role in either absorbing or amplifying certain sounds, but also in the overall atmosphere, with feelings of confinement despite the absence of walls in the first case, or a sense of gloom caused by the sound of the rain and, by extension, the rain itself.

What sounds would cause discomfort ? :

An animal’s cry, partly because their cry is their only response to pain, but also due to the empathy I feel. Or a simple high-frequency sound, this kind of sound can make me shiver

What sounds would alert you ? 

Sounds that are loud and unusual in a silent context.