Zibaldone V

While we may not always be aware of it, we all know; or should know at least that all buildings produce sound. White noise from HVAC, artificial lighting, wind, rain, temperature changes, appliances, et cetera are always humming in the background.

However, those noises are not a unique characteristic between buildings. They do not change the way we experience space. Buildings like musical instruments really produce sound through form, scale and material.

Through those qualities, sound can be manipulated to create a unique experience. When I play guitar, I don’t use my Gibson Les Paul for every song. Every detail from the wood species it’s made of and the shape of its body to the gauge of the strings I use creates a distinct sound and mood that is idiosyncratic. The same situation applies to architecture.

Many religious buildings such as the Baptistery of Pisa or more recently, Saarinens’s Kregse Chapel utilizes form, scale and material to create a large amount of reverb. In the main chamber of the Kregse Chapel, smooth, undulating walls of brick spanning two stories high enclose the entire space in a cylindrical volume. The properties of the brick material and round construction cause the vibrations of any sound made to reflect around the room, creating an echo. The effect, along with other characteristics of the building, implies the presence of a greater power. In this way, the sound that the Kregse Chapel makes specifically helps to create a spiritual experience.