Universitätsbibliothek
Weimar Open Access

Yomayra Puentes-Rivera

• This research seeks to make an exploratory study of the strategies used by the creators of monuments, memorials, and commemorative places located in the public spaces that use sound as one of the primary raw material in their design. The term acoustic monu-memorials was coined in this research to encircle these structures and places. In order to achieve the goal of this research, it was necessaryThis research seeks to make an exploratory study of the strategies used by the creators of monuments, memorials, and commemorative places located in the public spaces that use sound as one of the primary raw material in their design. The term acoustic monu-memorials was coined in this research to encircle these structures and places. In order to achieve the goal of this research, it was necessary to compile a number of samples, primarily after the digital recording era of captured sound around 1971 to the present. The compilation was relevant because such a compendium was not found in the literature, and to the author's knowledge, a comprehensive investigation of the strategies used in planning acoustic monu-memorials in the urban spaces does not exist. The method used to create such compendium was to send a question to people with different background identities, such as visual and sound artists, musicians, art curators, and heritage scholars among others. This question produced a selection of 51 examples of acoustic monu-memorials located in public spaces. Subsequently, the examples were classified into four major categories according to their form and nature. Additionally, two examples from the main categories were chosen as case studies: The Sinti and Roma Memorial in Berlin, Germany and the Niche monument in Cali, Colombia. These study cases were presented, described, and analysed in detail as they represent the type of what could be defined as an acoustic monu-memorial in general. Lynch’s (1960) five elements that help individuals build the image of the city were transferred and used as a tool to help to build this image into acoustic terms. A thorough analysis of the acquired data yielded found the strategies used by the designers to shape, modify, transform, and structure public space. These strategies are entitled Sound Spaces. Moreover, a list entitled Urban Acoustic Commemoration Code was compiled. This list of suggestions addresses urban planners, architects, artists, designers, and general public interested in the aspects involved when creating acoustic commemoration phenomena in public spaces.…