Martyn Ware creates quiet soundscape for Ideal Home Show
Soundscape designer Martyn Ware has created an immersive soundscape for the Quiet House, a showcase of quiet technology at the Ideal Home Show, which opens in London on Friday.
The Quiet House has been developed by Quiet Mark, the not-for-profit charitable arm of the Noise Abatement Society Charitable Foundation, which has worked with Gregory Phillips Architects on the installation.
Two weeks ago, Ware, who is founder of the consultancy Illustrious and a founding member of bands The Human League and Heaven 17, was asked by the Noise Abatement Society to create ‘an ambient sense of the future’ for visitors to engage with on wireless headphones he says.
The piece is concerned with ‘considering the world from a quiet perspective’ and is selected from an archive of material previously composed under the name House of Illustrious – by The Clarke and Ware Experiment.
From hundreds of tracks Ware has selected songs, which together create ‘a utopian sonic environment’ which he says sound both ‘heavenly and futuristic’.
Ware says it is important that ambient music is made ‘with sensitivity to volume levels’ so that ‘to make something sound real it’s at the right volume – you’d be amazed how many sound scape designers don’t consider that and become overwhelmed by the power in their hands.’
Quiet Mark research suggests the average household contains around 14 different appliances working at the same time and that half the UK population says noise affects their quality of life.
Quiet Mark certified companies demonstrating products within the space include Dyson, Lexus, Yamaha Musical Instruments, (which will showcase the Silent Piano) as well as Phillips and Samsung.
Interior design in The Quiet House is by Martin Hulbert and lighting by Andrew Orange.
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Good to see noise awareness prominent in design. Does it address main source of noise for most residents- that emanating from outside the home?