Meet Fast Forward Presenter >> Paul Thompson

What is your Big Idea for Philadelphia?

The Sounds of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia sounds I want to talk about are not the world famous Philadelphia Philharmonic, or the ground-breaking TSOP created by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in the 1970s. I will discuss the everyday experience of living in the city, and how we can make Philadelphia a healthier, safer, more pleasant place to live in by improving the sonic experience.

I started thinking about the sounds of Philadelphia when I left last year’s Fast Forward and heard the birds in the trees across the street. They were noisy and hidden in the leaves, but were a significant part of that evening’s experience. What are the other sounds of the city, and how do they affect us and define Philadelphia?

This talk will observe the sounds that define Philadelphia’s soundscape, the effects that noise has on humans and other living beings, and how we can understand and live with the realities of life in the city.

Finally, I will propose changes that we can make to enhance our lives and celebrate the bond between humans and other living systems in Philadelphia. By balancing natural and human sounds, we can create pleasing soundscapes of incredible diversity and complexity in our urban biophilia.

   

Paul Thompson AIA, LEED BD+C, CPHC
PATHarchitect(at)gmail.com
twitter.com/@PATHarchitect

Paul is an architect in Philadelphia. He loves beautiful buildings that use near-zero energy.