RES60504 Design Proposition| Sound Phenomenology

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC Introduction: Sound Phenomenology Research Background: Sound & Music Research Issue: Mental Illness Scope of Research: Sound Healing Theoretical Hypothesis: Music Into Space Research Questions + Maps Significance of Research: Healing & Euphoria Limitation of Research: Music ≠ Cure

CHAPTER 2: ELUCIDATION Introduction to Topic: Sound Phenomenology & Topic Overview Defintition of Topic: Sound, Music, Healing Theories related to Topic: Music Therapy & Chakras Application of Theories: Towards space Clientele: Financial Sustainability Site Mapping: Tangible Attributes

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CHAPTER 3: DESIGN RATIONALE Chosen Area & Rationale: Harp of Heart Design Feasibility: Hydroponic System Design Reasoning: Music & Nature Elements, Calming from Focusing, Nostalgia from Listening

CHAPTER 4: CRITICAL REFLECTION Critical Reflection: Strengths & Weaknesses Direction for: Following Semester

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC

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INTRODUCTION:

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Not only for physical or mental illness treatment, music has been widely known for its healing characteristics even for communication before the existence of written language (Batt-Rawden, 2010).

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usic is seen as a powerful tool to assist illness treatments, recognized by various professions over the time. Some of the Asian communities even utilize music to channel strength, unity, euphoria and harmony (Gouk, 2017).

Furthermore, Maranto and Scartelli (1992) has supported the fact that music is generally associated with personal healing such as diet, exercise, yoga meditation etc. because it is reported that the anxiety level could be reduced through proven reduction of stress hormone and heartbeat levels and even satisfactory recovery towards physical illnesses such as burn injuries or elderly illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia as depression often resulted from their declining of verbal, coordination and intelligence abilities (Bunt, 1997, Aldridge and Brandt, 1991).

The reason music heals is because it opens up our feelings to reconnect with our lives as if the breath of life is soothed into our body and mind (Magee and Davidson, 2004). In addition, Ruud (1997) explained how music impacts our life positively via 4 stages which include being aware of our own emotions, considering consequences of our acts, empower togetherness with people through similarities found in musical experience and understanding the enjoyment of life can prevent illnesses.

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SOUND PHENOMENOLOGY

Ever since the pandemic of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out on 11 March, as announced by World Health Organization (WHO), different phases of lockdown measures have been taken to prevent the prevalence of the dangerous virus, restricting people to stay within the boundaries of their home over weeks or months, which took a toll on people’s mental health and well-being. It is confirmed that psychological distress and emotional unstableness are highly observed in quarantined subjects due to the long duration of staying in an inadequate housing environment and unsatisfactory indoor facilities.

Undoubtedly built environment is a major influencer towards our health and examples of distressing environment would be lack of natural lighting, unwanted noises, claustrophobic spaces and absence of privacy when too many people were crowded in a small living space (Amerio et al., 2020). Hence, music could be a brilliant way to tackle these issues by the lowest commitment or cost needed.

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Heather (2007) stated that one of the primitive healing methods recognized by man is sound healing, a medicationfree ticket through various sound related measures such as vocals, rhythms, beats, harmony, resonance etc.

Known as both the “Father of Music & Mathematics”, Pythagoras was recorded to be the first being to find out that musical intervals are correlated to healing sound and harmonic frequencies, who then suggested music as medicine prescription.

During sound healing, distinct frequencies and vibrations are used for individuals or groups to experience many types of musical experience, whether it’s playing musical instruments, meditating in a silent room or dancing to the beats of the music. Even in Greek mythology, music was sought as a divine remedy together with other art forms like chanting, singing and poetry recitation because it was generally believed that music has the ability to soothe soul and emotions (Pulido, 2021).

To understand the rationale of sound healing, we must first know about frequency: wave that travels through vibrations into our ears and understood as sound through electrical impulses and resonance: natural vibration of every object at its own frequencies. Thus, we can conclude that sound healing is dependent on the concept that every living and non-living thing is in state of vibration and the way to uplift an individual’s spiritual and emotional selves is through correcting his resonant frequency (Goldman, 2017).

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SOUND & MUSIC

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Our body is defined as out of balance when we feel under the weather or sick and it is trusted that using sympathetic resonance and vibrations in music, our body can be adjusted back to its optimum state.

Brewer (1998) stated that the reason music is healing may be its language in vibration to align our mind to our spirit in our body to its rudimentary frequency. Colours can be translated into musical tones, taking for an example of the solfeggio frequencies found in the 7 healing chakras (body’s 7 main energy): Root (Red), Sacral (Orange), Solar Plexus (Yellow), Heart (Green), Throat (Blue), Third Eye (Violet) and Crown (Magenta). Each tune is correlated to its specific musical note and therapists can use this method to guide individuals in healing different parts of their bodies through the resonance of a particular helpful note. Music therapy is a non-bias treatment method as anyone from any cultural or social background can try it to alienate the pain in the soul or physical body.

So, what kind of sounds or music are preferably used in sound healing? In an experiment conducted by local university students at Klang, three groups of students are respectively listening to natural sounds of waves, wind and birds at the beach; instrumental piano music; and zikr. The results show that all students’ heartbeat rates were lowered after the musical experience but the group that listened to the natural beach sounds experienced the most reduction in heartbeat rates, followed by zikr and piano (Latif, 2018). Service environment can be enhanced through musical tempo and rhythm harmony using classical music and soft lighting to improve higher service quality attributes too.

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RESEARCH ISSUE: Mental illness is defined as having the symptoms of discomfort, depressed moods and hallucination. An individual diagnosed with depression is not just experiencing normal unhappiness but also show severe negative behaviors that is endlessly exaggerates his sad moods through disconnecting himself from his surroundings (Halpern, 2014).

On the other hand, mental health is defined as the state of wellbeing in which one can tackle daily pressure and proceed productively with an internal balance in his body. One’s internal equilibrium is heavily reliant on the spatial and social behaviors around him as he is the product of his living environment.

In the The Built Environment and Mental Health journal, Evans (2003) emphasized that the built environment has a significant impact on our mental health, be it direct or not. Housing quality such as prolong unkempt environment, lacking nearby amenities and poor structural quality can harm the inhabitants who especially live on high rise buildings. Due to Covid-19 lockdown, people are either being forced to confine within a small space especially huge families (Gillard et al., 2021) or alone, restricting socialization.

Firdaus (2017) also supported the statement by saying that overcrowding inhibits development of good household relationships due to lack of private spaces.

On the other hand, single residence could also be claustrophobic for individuals to live alone due to constant silence. Coleman (2007) mentioned that space is where people have daily interactions and we cannot escape from its existence. Covid-19 lockdown has definitely led to an alarming increase of people staying indoor at home which led to many complications that must be addressed, specifically mid-rise and high-rise urban apartment areas.

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MENTAL ILLNESS

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Poor quality of exterior view, spatial mundanity and sound pollution become the major factors that people find fatigue and oppression easily, especially during the times they are bounded within their dwellings for a ridiculously considerable of time (Peters and Halleran, 2020, Evans, 2003).

Studies have proven that long exposure to aircraft, neighbor and traffic noises generate psychological distress (Evans, 2003) as it provokes irritation when unwanted nuisance invaded into our mind and thoughts (Shepherd, 1975). Health problems such as nausea, anxiety, low sleeping quality and depression can be caused by heightened traffic in fast-developing urban areas due to the unvoluntary injection of nervousness and painful ear ringing that increases stress levels which deteriorates our health over the time. Noise acts as a stressor that impedes people’s performance in communicating, memorizing and focusing on their work.

Annoyance and noise are reported to be associated in a dose-response relationship, which can be even more jeopardizing to those with anxiety trait and higher sensitivity to noise (Lundberg, 2013). Anyhow, a good mental health is essential as it promotes self- confidence, productivity in work, good social relationship foundations and stresscoping enhancement. (Topics, 2021)

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SCOPE OF RESEARCH: Music itself is defined as sounds that are pleasing to the ear while sound can be perceived as vibrations that travels via a medium to our ear canals. Hence, sound healing or music therapy shares the similarity of using vibrations of sound waves that are euphony to the ear, and this is where the idiom, ‘music to the ear’ was invented.

It is recognized that music has the ability to change any space’s perception regardless of it being a pre-recorded piece or live performance or attract people’s attention even in terms of marketing aspects (Oakes and Warnaby, 2011). Every living and non-living being has a specific vibratory rate and level of resonant frequency, which devises the amalgamation of frequency that correlates to each other in the body.

When one part becomes dissonant, sound can return it back to its harmonious state through resonance, a principle applied in entrainment, which is a process of unifying the rhythms and patterns whereas the intention behind the sound healing is also a powerful determinant for therapeutic purposes.

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Fabien Maman, inventor of “sound vibrational therapy”, explains that each note and level of hertz can pair with a body organ to produce the healing effect through the use of tuning forks, crystal bowls, gongs and drums (Pulido, 2021).

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SOUND HEALING

Furthermore, any keys sung can engender harmonics which led to sound healing. For instance, ancient civilizations discovered the way to construct sound chambers in their Great Pyramid that manipulate the occupants’ consciousness level as they claimed to see swirling smokes when in actual it’s just low frequency sounds resonating to generate the feel of sacristy.

In terms of music, Acapella, Indian classical music and Gregorian Chant are great examples of music pieces that are rich in harmonics to induce this kind of effect as it slows down our breathing and heart rates. This is because our body tend to match the music’s pitch and rhythms that impacts the fluctuation of our emotions and sensations, benefitting our attitude towards life by raising optimism and concentration. Sound healing methods basically includes the use of our vocals, musical instruments and listening to preferred musical genres (Heather, 2007).

“Music is an individualized medicine”, said by Stevens (2012), as our body resonates with certain pieces of music due to its vibratory connections that matches our body which results in healing and moving our souls. He also came out with theories of inner music: silence for the mind through the art of relaxing; rhythm for the body through process of entrainment; harmony for the soul through resonating vibration and melody for the heart through song enchantment.

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THEORETICAL HYPOTHESIS:

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Coleman (2007) said that music has the ability to affect our emotions and feelings which also changes the way we perceive and experience the phenomenology in a space.

Sound produce depth in the experience as one enters the space. Hence, it is safe to say that music can be a determinant in space and architecture to humans’ eyes.

Since architecture can manipulate our environments, music can be integrated into architecture to reinvigorate a dead space to enhance its aural dimension.

Resemblance between musical pieces and architecture buildings can be seen in their architecture movements and origins of music. When music is integrated into the disciplines of architecture, the space not only performs its intended functions but provides a whole new sensory experience to the occupants inside with collaboration of five senses, not just the nihilistic eye (Grueneisen, 2003, Pallasmaa, 2012).

Theoretically, unlively spaces could be manipulated with sound of music since they can steer people into feeling particular emotions according to the intended atmosphere, which in this case, an imitation of one’s asylum. High frequencies tend to reflect when encountering a barrier.

Wind can be a helpful element to reproduce many sounds like breeze to simulate natural sounds through customized wind chime (Coleman, 2007). In fact, there are several music installations examples in built architecture or art installation to encourage people’s interaction with spaces.

For instance, the Grand Musical Staircase at Berjaya Times Square Mall, Kuala Lumpur, lit with LED sound graphs, features various musical instruments music like flute, harp and percussion when people walk on the flight of stairs to entice people from their sedentary lifestyle.

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MUSIC INTO SPACE Similar installations can be viewed too at Western countries such as Piano Stairs in Milan, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; San Francisco, USA etc (Star, 2021, CMUSE, 2014). Another amazing precedent work was done by Swedish composer Anders Lind, where people with zero music knowledge can create their own music or unique mixture of sounds by touching the colorful lines attached on wall and floor that are connected to sensors, programmed

by Max/MSP (Lindskog, 2018). Another novel music masterpiece is New Orleans’ Dithyrambalina, a music village that serves as a musical platform for anyone to perform, enjoy, create music from scratch without pre-requisites.

Music is atmospheric as it influences our emotions empathically, forming a transitory and spirited moods in spaces (Pallasmaa, 2014). It could be just some ropes, corrugated tubes, telephones, walls or other salvaged materials that make sounds by the community passing by to create music either by sound sampling, percussion sounds, echoes, air blowing and tuned creaks (Kickstarter, 2016).

This makes the community very lively because everybody has the chance to get their hands on these ‘instruments’ and play along fully to their heart’s contents without prejudice or restrictions. As the cottage’s reputations grow, even musicians and artists gather to make art and further aroused people’s curiosity to join the hype and interact, which indirectly becomes a music festival that brings happiness and pride to people in the relaxing ambience and environment.

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS: 1.

How does musical elements be translated into space?

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How does architecture evoke emotions in relation to music?

3. How music, and subsequently emotion, can be integrated into architectural design.

4. Can emotional deception change how one perceives a space to be, and if so, could one specifically design a space to result in a predetermined emotion?

5. How much can the human mind be manipulated by the visual and aural environment surrounding it, and to what level could it be controlled?

National Science Centre

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Micro Map

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Macro Map

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH:

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Declared by the Patron of the Malaysian Psychiatric Association (MPA), the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder rate has grown to 29% among Malaysians in 2017 from 12% in 2011.

A terrifying 50% increase of depressed population has been reported between 2011 to 2015, even before Covid-19 exists (Star, 2018). As the number continues to grow during the pandemic, staying indoor on the long run can put a hazardous impact on depressed patients. Hence, music can be a healing method if integrated with the built environment to keep the occupants relaxed and elevated.

This research aims to discuss the ways architecture can manipulate the occupant emotions towards a better mental wellbeing through an agent- music and sounds. In terms of musical elements being adopted into architecture, Philips Pavilion (19561958) by Le Corbusier and Iannis Xenakis shows an intricate sonic elucidation in its fluidity of its walls and ceilings that seems like a seamless continuation of structure through the concept of glissandi using hyperbolic paraboloids (Sterken, 2007).

Music has the ability to awaken our memories of certain emotions as music can linked us back to unforgettable events, be it a festival you have participated in, a marriage ceremony you have witnessed, a proud achievement moment you have sought; powerful musical rhythms act as a catalyst to our neurophysiological systems till our mind and body reach unison to move along to the beats (Scherer, 2004).

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HEALING & EUPHORIA

In addition, Morimoto (2016) mentioned that space is deciphered by the physical material and space used and can be combined with music variables like aural sounds, pitch, texture and rhythms composed in music to form a 3-dimensional auditory space as joy or related moods can be induced in consonant intervals of music.

Another novel architecture would be Stretto House by Steven Holls Architects as the entire space experience is graceful in a way that the overlapping interiors lead you to walk through the spaces instrumented by mixture of light and texture like masonry (cello and percussion) and glass enclosure under curvy metal roofs (string instrument).

Furthermore, musical rhythms, introduced as the “undulating glass panels”, are translated into the window façade of La Tourette to be pragmatically aesthetic.

Mental health problems should not be undermined and if an aural environment can be designed to cater for healing purposes with the integration of music, it can be a win-win situation where the awareness of sensory place can be made known to reach the public and at the same time acts an unwinding, utopian platform for anyone to rejuvenate, alienate and find their peace of mind.

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LIMITATION OF RESEARCH: Although music is a handy tool to facilitate all kinds of therapies, an individual cannot be guaranteed or directly recovered solely by music therapy (Crowe and Scovel, 1996).

Moreover, not all music forms are found therapeutic as it still relies heavily on the individual’s likings and conditions so it is extremely important to avoid using music that individuals find it irritable or uneasy (Goodtherapy, 2007-2021). There’s no saying that one type or genre of music suits everyone’s situations as not all music is composed to reach that goal of healing: one may find it calming but the other may become aggressive, finding the piece of music disrupting (Brewer, 1998) Since music can recall happy memories, it can also bring threat as one is reminded of a certain fear or grieving incident that is haunting.

Hence, music cannot be the sole reliance to generate the same type of strong fundamental emotions in huge crowds as not everyone shares the same sweetness or dread of life experience when listening to a certain music genre (Scherer, 2004).

There are many uncertainties concerning the factors that accumulate the ‘burden’ that caused depression and anxiety disorders, hence neither scientists nor psychopharmacologist can come up with a single magic treatment that could cure the illness once and for all. It’s true that music can provide a healing comfort to the people who listens and experience it but the positive effect may not be long lasting as they could go back to their original state once they stepped out of the music territory.

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MUSIC ≠ CURE

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Although music is a handy tool to facilitate all kinds of therapies, an individual cannot be guaranteed or directly recovered solely by music therapy (Crowe and Scovel, 1996).

Nevertheless, even if music is just a temporary shelter that people can seek refuge to, it’s still important that more enhanced development of therapeutic spaces are needed to provide as many helps as possible to the public as every effort counts to improve the overall wellbeing of the community. Only when our mental state is in good condition, we could proceed to keep going and move on to enjoy the simple pleasures in life and start the day with optimism and positive vibes. Music is free, music is everywhere; it could be the clapping sounds to the beats you listen, it could be you randomly humming to the chirping sounds of the birds or even flowing of water as you water your plants in the balconies. If music can make a difference, it should be considered as an effective way to implement in the built environment as space is defined by the events occurred in them, which involves humans who are spatial beings.

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CHAPTER 2: ELUCIDATION

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INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC:

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The built environment plays an important factor in promoting or impeding mental health, says Sullivan and Chang (2011), who explored how mental health is exhausted by the living environment trends in the modern era.

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ound Phenomenology is the study of how music and sound can heal people mentally, giving the needy a peace of mind and to relax or calm down their anxiety and depression. It’s true that the rapid industrial revolutions have improved the way we lived, with advanced technology and better facilities; but this extreme fast paced lifestyle could also be a double-edged sword that’s detrimental to our mental health. As a result, it has taken a huge toll on the Malaysian communities’ mental health until it has become an unneglectable issue by the government to hold the responsibility (Mubarak, 2003, Sherwood, 1988). Moreover, the implementation of lengthy confinement during lockdown to curb the prevalence of the infectious Covid-19 virus has proven deleterious to one’s emotional wellbeing as it causes frustration, insomnia, panic attacks, mood swings etc.

With lesser engagement in social interactions and activities, people have experienced adverse aftermath of the constant sedentary lifestyle and poor daily diet (Ammar et al., 2021). Restricted to the boundaries of one’s home, people find it restless and strenuous to maintain mobility in one’s space to do limited activities and find it more difficult to rest as the work-fromhome concept has painstakingly becoming a full day demand working lifestyle due to the convenience of social media to contact at any hours.

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SOUND PHENOMENOLOGY

Other than the reduction of privacy, outdoor activities are also limited only to fulfil basic needs, which are buying groceries at nearby supermarkets. Hence, Covid-19 not only weakens our social connections, it only leaves us breathless by trapping us within four walls that perpetuates severe overthinking and prolonged state of low spirits (Ali et al., 2021). People are more prone to develop emotional attachments to places that reminds them of certain good memories and positive experiences that felt supportive to their emotional wellbeing. Never-ending tasks, traffic congestions, overwhelming social medias are tormenting burdens that tires our mind and provoking unpleasant emotional fluctuations in our busy life. Studies have shown that psychological distress is likely to increase in crowded and high-density homes with multifamily.

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INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC:

On the other hand, Shepherd (1974) emphasized that environmental pollutant, specifically sound pollution, should not be underestimated as well as it could be a perilous hazard to our mental health. Noise pollution, in simple words, is unwanted sounds that affects humans and wildlife adversely. Sources of noises pollution can vary across broad areas, such as traffic, construction, aircrafts, poor urban planning and hustle nightlife. These sounds are considered harmful noises when it has reached to a certain extent that it brings pain and discomfort to our ears, which further intricates and inducing health problems that turn our body frequency into dissonance. Cases associated to harmful auditory stimuli ranges from annoyance and fatigue to cognitive disorders such as anxiety-depressive syndromes and panic attacks.

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TOPIC OVERVIEW

Sounds is everywhere; sounds cannot be ‘switched off’ just because we dislike them but ironically, sound is what strengthens our memories of a gratifying ambience of certain places that we have been to. So, what if sound can be handled wisely to use for healing, rather than destructing? Music, with its ability to heal without physical medication, could be one of the effective answers that we are looking for in order to tackle the mental health implications from growing by means of integrating sounds into the built environment. Hence, this chapter explores the possibilities of music and sound being utilised in interior spaces to provide therapeutic purposes to occupants as an escape or breakaway from their endless exhausting life routines and graving depression.

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DEFINITION OF TOPIC Sound and music are correlated; both produced by the continuous vibrations of air molecules, forming a type of energy that are used to convey different kinds of experiences, environments and emotions.

‘Sound’ originated from the Latin word, ‘sonus’ that means “noise, sound” or “tone.

Character, style”. Pasnau (1999) explained that sound is commonly perceived as either the object of hearing or the medium’s characteristics which exists in the air, that comes to us from all sides as it is considered omnidirectional. Instead of saying that objects have sounds, the objects actually make sounds that does not only contain within the object itself, but spread out. Just like how we never question the location of the sounds but yet asks for the direction they are emanated. ‘Music’, on the other hand, is derived from the Latin root word,

‘musica’ that means a beauty of form, harmony and emotion expression made of the sole source or combination of vocal or instrumental sounds. Godt (2005) regards music as sounds that are anthropologically arranged with an aesthetic intention while Cross (2001) claims that music is polysemic as it cannot be merely defined with sound and movements but also contains implication of various reference and meanings. For instance, music can be used to communicate, to restructure and to interact. Brewer (1998) further supports the above statement by saying that music is created using sounds to generate positive changes that are therapeutic our body and mind. Music serves many functions, for instance self- expression, intimacy and love, unification and propaganda, not just for celebration but also for mourning.

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SOUND, MUSIC, HEALING

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Brewer (1998) proposed that music is capable of eliminating the fear and stress of facing the insecurity of the unpredictable future events.

To heal, is to restore, alleviate, relieve and improve and change our negative, clouded mind into more positive thoughts so that one feels comforted, motivated and becomes whole in the midst of healing process. In addition, music and sounds exists in the field of medicine and health can be defined as having a “sound mind and body” as sound also means being in a good condition. Even ‘yao’, meaning ‘medicine’ in Mandarin is attained from ‘yue’, the Mandarin word for music, hence music can be seen as a nourishing health supplement that treats our soul which includes the four elements: silence, melody, rhythm and harmony (Stevens, 2012). As a matter of fact, music, that is created by the intended harmonious arrangement of sounds with varying rhythms, pitch, movement, silences can be fused with spaces to engender the immerse and enlightening experience that directs towards healing purposes to make one become whole again; an effective getaway from crucifying agony and excruciating distress that deteriorate one’s welfare.

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THEORIES RELATED TO TOPIC Music can be a broad range and the main disciplinary that is focused on this research would be music therapy. Pain intensity and anxiety is said to be decreased to patients when listening to music with severe pain due to surgery or the physical injuries itself (Snyder and Chlan, 1999). In conjunction with that, slow paced music is perceived as relaxing and enables the reduction of physiological arousal while fast paced music does the opposite.

Classical music is believed to have proven its positive effects of relaxing one’s mind and body in comparison to hard rock music (Burns et al., 2002). Depressed individuals who have difficulty in opening their hearts to speak, music can be used as a spirit guide to de-stress, meditate and heal. Maratos et al. (2008) and Yolanda Smith (2021) introduced the many types of music therapies, which include: Bonny method with guided imagery, Dalcroze eurhthmics, Kodaly, Neurologic music therapy (NMT), Nordoff-Robbins and OrffSchulwerk.

1) Bonny method was developed by a music therapist called Helen Lindquist Bonny who figure out guided imagery can aid patients to spill out their thoughts and raise their self-awareness along with classical music. This is because music acts as a facilitator in forming an inner dialogue with the receiver to reflect on his emotions and thoughts that surfaces along with the mental images such as meadow, ocean and mountain. As our sensory experience is enhanced while listening to music, we are able to use it as a unique medium to explore consciousness in the midst of recollecting forgotten memories and rediscovering the suppressed feelings and treat them in an altered state of mind (Goldberg, 1995).

2) Dalcroze eurhthmics method is applied through the education of music for students with motor difficulty to pick up the music learning itself as a form of healing therapy by focusing on the music pieces’ rhythms and expressive movements which is quite similar to Neurologic music therapy, whose focus is on the brain, also related to motor skills enhancement too. The use of rhythms, movements, music creation and intonation are the similarities detected in all music therapy methods. In addition, the Bonny therapy process enables patients to converse with the therapist subconsciously in the Western classical music background (Erkkilä J, 2021).

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MUSIC THERAPY & CHAKRAS

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Chakras are the expression, thinking and creation of one’s self; an ancient system correlated to auras and electromagnetic fields; and each chakra has its own solfeggio frequencies that represents a body area and neither should be more dominant to achieve equilibrium and harmony (Sherwood, 1988).

3) Healing Chakras is healing frequencies and resonance.

Solfeggio frequencies are namely 396Hz (Root Chakra), 417Hz (Sacral Chakra), 528Hz (Solar Plexus), 639Hz (Heart), 741Hz (Throat), 852Hz (Third Eye) and 963Hz (Crown Chakra), are known to reduce stress by dispelling the negative energy from the body (Bruyere, 1994, Davis, 2021).

In relation to the metaphysical teachings originated from India, it is said that the ‘chakras’ are the prominent body energy nucleus that connects our physical shell to our minds (Snow, 2011). The process of healing can be achieved by playing vibration instruments like Cymbals, Gongs, Wind Chimes, Kalimba, Drums etc. to return your body chakras to their natural state.

An individual can experience an altered state of consciousness through sounds as our body-mind undergoes entrainment, a process where we match ourselves to the rhythms and frequencies of sound origins and immediately making a shift to our mood and attention in a glimpse.

As we engage ourselves in sound healing, we are able to release our pent-up emotions and to put down the weight in our heart that has been bothering us and thus, freeing ourselves from the dungeons of depression as sounds can easily shift our focal point to our inner thoughts and simply enjoying the aesthetics of sound itself, almost like a ‘Dis-ease’ process of healing.

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APPLICATION OF THEORIES 1) Bonny Method Chen and Tsai (2015) mentioned that message implied by imagery in exhibitions can be further reinforced through sound like music, narrative dialogue or ambient sounds as all three of them are proven effective in creating the ambience. In conjunction with one of the music therapies called Bonny method with guided imagery, therapeutic goals can be achieved when an interior space potentially used as an art exhibition or gallery, complemented by meticulous selection of soft tempo or non-lyrical background music to act as a catalyst in prompting occupants to connect and understand the messages behind the art pieces better psychologically in a subtle way. Slower visiting pace can be induced by playing relaxing music, which facilitates the relaxation performance of viewers while walking through the planned spaces and enhances their mental imagery to divert their attention away from the worrying thoughts going round in their minds. Since the concrete jungles and skyscrapers are overshadowing the nature and greeneries, long time separation from nature can also impact one’s mental health severely as it causes extreme sensory deprivations that leads to anxiety and depression problems too. Hence, nature imagery being brought into the interior spaces accompanied by nature soundscape like the rivers, forest and ocean can sustain the good calming mood.

2) Dalcroze method Both music and architecture are conceptual art expressions based on rhythms, harmony and scale. Rhythm in terms of music is defined as the motion of music along with time can be controlled by tempo, as people tend to pick up the fast pace when listening to quick tempo music on the running track whereas rhythm in terms of interior design is how a space’s design leads the eye through various elements that includes shape or forms, light and shadow, line, colour and sound. Five instances of rhythms applied to interior spaces would be: radiation by using phenomenal radiating lines; juxtaposition by putting huge differences on repetitive shapes, angles and patterns; smooth flow using arched doorway, long carpet, coloured graphics and wallpaper boundary; progression by alternating shades of colours and scale of forms; and repetition in the usage of texture, style, pattern or even colour. Wise selection of music at different periods of time also plays a major role to create different suitable ambiences for relaxing, for instance, jazz in the morning with chill positive vibes; uplifting beats at noon to energize the crowd and electronic jazz at night for subtle mood uplifting effects.

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TOWARDS SPACE

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It’s also important to take note that inconsistent repetition interior design creates a dynamic space as it scatters people while consistent organisation in a radial expansion creates a centralized space where people gather to mingle around (Amelia et al., 2020).

3) Healing Chakras Moreover, Solfeggio frequencies, introduced by the concept of healing chakras can be incorporated into the built environment to help people relax and reconnect with their inner minds by engaging occupants’ senses into refocusing on their minds. The healing frequencies can be classified into different colours that affect our body physically and emotionally, such as evoking enthusiasm through warm colours and reduction in anxiety through cool tones (Friedman, 2012). Sound therapy with the application of chakra in an interior space can be done by installing frequency chambers or human size capsules that directs the sounds with specific frequencies at the human body while sitting in the space to feel the resonance and readjusting our body-mind back to its natural state. It is generally said that the Root Chakra (spine base) gives us security; Sacral Chakra (below belly button) opens up our minds; Solar Plexus Chakra (stomach) heightens self-esteem; Heart Chakra (Heart) induce compassion; Throat Chakra (throat) restore spiritually and Crown Chakra (top of the head) represents spiritual connection to one’s self and his surroundings. (Davis, 2021)

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CLIENTELE

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Malaysian Music Therapy Association has been actively engaging with several events to reach out to more audience about how music therapy supports mental illnesses.

In light of promoting better mental health through sound healing and music to locals that are facing emotional distress, a collaboration with the Malaysian Music Therapy (MMTA) can be possible way to highlight the awareness and also financially contributing to the project’s sustainability in the long run. As an introduction, Malaysian Music Therapy Associations (MMTA) is a professional body that is in charge of handling music therapy affairs in Malaysia as music therapy set its foot on our country for nearly two decades.

MMTA’s objectives include raising awareness of the effectivity of music therapy; other professional disciplines’ translator and advocator; allied health discipline under Ministry of Health Malaysia, improving the education and training standards for local music therapy and Malaysian music therapists’ legislative body to protect their career certification and accreditation and rights. Despite the difficulty to conduct face to face music therapy sessions during the pandemic, Several notable initiatives include an online event with TEDX Taylors University, Music Therapy and stress management workshop with Devoice MSU Choir Club and AIM High Mindfulness Webinar with Autism Initiatives Malaysia. Hence, professional music therapists are also welcomed to enlighten more people in the Sound Phenomenology project to assist the therapeutic processes happening in the designated spaces. (MMTA, 2021).

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FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

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SITE MAPPING Macro Mapping: Kuala Lumpur 1) Sound Pollution Purwaningsih et al. (2018) mentioned that any decibel level that goes beyond 65 dB is considered harmful to human health and it’s found out that traffic and airport noises ranged between 70 to 80 dB and 120 dB respectively. Being a hustle and bustle city that is growing with advanced development of transit routes, traffic roads and airports, it’s no doubt that Kuala Lumpur falls under the category of noise polluted area.

2) Covid-19 Cases As the most affected state in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has undergone the greatest number of lockdown measurements up to 7 months since June but still reported 22242 Covid-19 cases on 18th August 2021 (Lum, 2021). emotional distress such as anxiety, mood swings and depression rate has skyrocketed due to the sensory deprivation caused during lockdown home confinement (Olszewska-Guizzo et al., 2021) .

Micro Mapping: National Science Centre 1) Surrounding Healing Sites National Science Centre has been chosen as the project site for music therapy and sound healing as it is strategically placed around residential areas with less traffic that may lead to sound pollution. Furthermore, it’s surrounded by quite several possible healing places such as parks, waterfall point, yoga and meditation centre, active community centre, wine cellar etc. People living in the area can go for peaceful walks at Sri Hartamas Park; listen to the flowing water at the Waterfall Point in Bukit Kiara Forest; relax their mind and body at Kiara Physiotherapy; sign up to favourite musical concerts held at Bukit Kiara Indoor Arena; enjoy chilly wines and conversation at Winedaddy; try yoga meditation at Swan Liew Yoga and attend joyful wedding ceremonies held at Bukit Damansara Community Centre. Hence, National Science Centre can serve as a suitable site to be designated into a healing and calming space completed by music and sound healing elements.

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TANGIBLE ATTRIBUTES Active Covid-19 Cases in KL 30 Oct 2021

Confirmed Covid-19 Cases in KL

30 Oct 2021

Blue Lines: Traffic Roads

Macro Mapping

Sri Hartamas Park Waterfall Point, Bukit Damansara

Swan Liew Yoga

Community Centre

Bukit Kiara Indoor Arena

Kiara Physiotherapy

Micro Mapping

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Winedaddy

CHAPTER 3: DESIGN RATIONALE

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CHOSEN AREA & RATIONALE:

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Despite the adaptation to advanced technology and facilities towards a better lifestyle, people still require a short escape to nature other than busying 24/7 in the hustle and bustle city to feel connected to Mother Earth.

The area that I have chosen for AIAD I final project is ‘Harp of Heart’, a nature incorporated resting and meditating space for occupants to calm down their mind during their first visit in National Science Centre. ‘Harp of Heart’ is located just after the main entrance on Ground Floor with the intention of calming visitors from their hectic daily schedules to act as an introduction to music therapy.

It is found out that residents living around the site intend to visit nature related environments before the pandemic for recreational purposes such as the Waterfall Point at the Bukit Kiara Forest and Sri Hartamas Park. People can simply enjoy the sound orchestra formed by natural environment and elements such as the cooling wind, flowing water streams, leaves rustlings and getting close to greeneries.

Hence, ‘Harp of Heart’ is inspired to bring nature into indoor spaces where the public regardless of age, gender, culture and social status can retrieve their peace of minds in this garden-themed programming. At ‘Harp of Heart’, visitors can distant themselves from the noise pollution and traffic jams on the highway roads and indulge themselves in a meticulously designated meditation area that provides resting and gardening activities or even simple exercising to unwind in this temporary shelter from the outside world.

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HARP OF HEART

Having no entrance fee at all, families and friends and gather around to enjoy scenic views through creative nature photographs captured by awardees, selected professionally by the panel of jury among our staffs. Everyone is welcomed to submit their artwork, be it photographs or paintings, and the best ones would be picked to display at our site for healing purposes and even donated to raise fund for the mental illness hospitals. Hence, painting and art related, windsessions are possible while visiting this therapeutic space with basic art supplies provided but canvases sold according to your preferences of sizes. By drawing and colouring, people can direct their attention on the creative process rather than their anxiety so negative thoughts will drift away when you focus on your hand movements, colours, paper texture.

However, it doesn’t forbid visitors to have the opportunity to create time for self-reflection as it prompts you for taking the first step into analysing your source of anxiety and slowly figuring out ways to resolve it.

Furthermore, simple gardening is highly encouraged not just for green thumbs but also for enthusiastic beginners who would like to delve into the art of self-healing through gardening. In order to keep the hygiene of the space, Hydroponic system is implemented instead with simple tools needed and such activities will be guided by employed professionals to assist the whole process. Those who are interested can sign up at the registration counter to be done individually or groups with limited slots offered daily. There will be small booths scattered around the area that sells suitable plant species that are easily taken care of for any interested visitors who desires to purchase a plant as a therapeutic souvenir back home after the momentary visits.

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DESIGN FEASIBILITY: The main highlight in the programming will be the integration of simple gardening with soothing nature melody for meditating purposes. Gardening can be used an effective therapeutic activity for mental ill-ed patients because it is believed people has a need to associate with natural environment based on the attention restoration theory and psycho-physiological stress theory. To put into simple words, people need to have fascination type of attention that is not driven by any goals to restore the wellbeing that is affected the stress that comes from the directed attention. The beguiling stimuli that originates from the fascination attention can be found in gardens where people can experience an immediate effect of feeling relaxed and recovering quickly from stressful events that has been circling their heads (Clatworthy et al., 2013).

As an introduction, Hydroponics means “working water” in Latin. This system is introduced here for indoor farming as it is space-saving due to its usage of mineral nutrient solutions to grow the plants instead of soil. In Hydroponic system, plants, held in a mesh like net pots, are cultivated in PVC drain pipe that acts as the growing bed which contains the mineral nutrient solutions that is circulated well through the nutrient solution tank for photosynthesis.

This method allows gardeners to record the nutrient absorption level of the plants in order to determine the required amount of nutrient concentration and other factors like temperature, pH level, dissolved oxygen needed to take care of its growth (Son et al., 2020). Energy is saved as the plant’s roots are exposed to the water and nutrition, allowing quick flourishment and easy care.

Artificial Lighting

Tube

Reservoir for Water Nutrient Solution

Water Pump

Air Stone

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Air Pump

HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

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In this space, visitors can involve physically in the hydroponic gardening or even buy a plant pot back home to serve as a healing companion.

Artificial light is assisted using a reflector hood hung above the plants rack with 400W-600W lighting bulbs and powered using a remote ballast that is installed below ground level to prevent it getting wet (D’anna, 2019). Indoor plants that require dim light exposure and suitable to grow using Hydroponic method are Philodendron, Devil’s Ivy, Dracaena and Peace Lily.

To ensure that the water is sufficiently aerated, air pump is attached externally via an opaque food grade plastic tubing to an air stone to pump oxygen and disperse the air bubbles inside the nutrient solution reservoir to distribute the minerals evenly as well as preventing algae growth inside the tube. In this space, visitors can involve physically in the hydroponic gardening or even buy a plant pot back home to serve as a healing companion.

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DESIGN REASONING: 1) Music & Nature Elements into architecture: ‘Harp of the Heart’ is envisioned to have several circular pavilions that are made up of wooden cone structures and soundwave rhythm elements as sounds are omnidirectional, hence, inspired the ideation of radial designs throughout the space. Studies have shown that by just spending time in the woods for half an hour, our cortisol levels or stress hormones can be lowered and the refreshing environment can boost our moods. Hence, by incorporating wood into the main design structures or built-in furniture details as well as implementing the living greeneries or floral shrubs into the interior space, visitors can experience a specially replication of nature environments to bring about the same effect as people feel when they mingle in actual forests or parks. Biophilic design as in ‘Nature in the Space’, is introduced here through the inclusion of plant life through hydroponic farming as it forms a visual connection with nature. Biomorphic forms or patterns, such as the mimicry of tree barks into hydroponic farming structure frame and usage of natural materials such as plywood will create the indirect connection with nature (Browning, 2014). Musical elements such as pitch, texture and rhythms can be translated into the fluidity of the ceiling or wall design through organic space designs installations to showcase the seamless and harmonious relation of music into our minds.

Moreover, as its theme suggests, nature and greeneries take a huge role in being a medium to help visitors attain inner peace and healing properties. Given that the pandemic has locked up people within their home boundaries, nature has been out of reach for people while being trapped in the concrete jungles for weeks and months, developing social anxiety and mood swings that leads to self-destruction. Feeling of connectedness with nature is impeded by sound pollution and traffic noise that triggers the arousal of negative mood. Imageries showing nature contents, sighted in isolation or experienced directly, can improve one’s mental state as the effect of anxiety reduction is affected by the greenness viewed in natural environments. This is further supported by Shanahan et al. (2019), who discussed that nature-based interventions into spaces has the ability to improve populations’ health significantly and also acts as a cost-effective mental restoration method by involving interactive activities in the green spaces and vegetation areas. Hence, the design elements and the visuals of the area is heavily inspired by Mother Earth itself by having crawling plants around the wooden structures such as the philodendron and Devil’s Ivy while incorporating artificial grass floor mat for easier maintenance with green moss wall décor as well as flower bushes as dividers of the spaces to induce the feeling of harmony and peace while walking in the nature to energize the crowd and electronic jazz at night for subtle mood uplifting effects.

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MUSIC & NATURE ELEMENTS

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Researches has proven that mindfulness can be achieved when we walk indoor or outdoor in an environment with nature exposure as nature is seen as an important advocating agent for human’s wellbeing as well as self-flourishing (Nisbet et al., 2019).

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DESIGN REASONING: 2) Calming from focusing: In spite of sedentary meditation being the focused goal for visitors to unwind in a de-stress atmosphere, visitors can have the chance to pick up some non-strenuous hobbies such as gardening and simple brisk walking can not only offer a peace of mind by keeping you attentive at a single task, it can also promote health as loosening your joints through small movements and enlarge your social circles as you befriend someone when participating the therapeutic sessions. Constant high cortisol levels caused by stress can increase the risk of getting depression and mental illness but gardening can be an effective way to keep things under control. Since the exposure of sunlight in indoor areas are weaker than outdoor plantations, indoor hydroponic plants that requires minimum light exposure is adopted for plausible gardening activities and saves space as a huge land of soil beds are not needed since the main component is the mineral nutrient solution that can be refill easily from time to time. Simulated visual connection can be done through videos depicting nature scenes too. Ever since physical isolation measures are taken to reduce the risk of prevalence of the pandemic, people have been reported to develop moderate depression and anxiety due to reduced interaction to outdoor greeneries and prolonged nature deprived environment.

Besides, creative activities such as drawing and painting nature landscapes and sceneries can be stress relieving because creating art allows self-expression and emotional release that leads to an overall improvement of mental health. Self-discovery through creative means is a great helping hand as we identify the triggering source of our feelings and a new hobby can build up our self-esteem when we finished our very own artwork while receive healing treatment indirectly while doing art in the indoor nature space. Uncomplex wind chime and rain stick bottle that resemble gentle rain sounds workshops will also be conducted as they both produce sounds that are considered healing to our mind. In terms of psychology, shades of green are often associated with growth and a brand new start in life, and often invoke feelings of being secured in a harmless and harmonious place, making the colour a ‘green light’ to be used in healing spaces (Wharton, 2019). However, mindfulness activity need not be moving as it can be conducted through sitting meditation to feel the positive effects such as feeling exhilarated, inspired, and fixated rather than merely serenity, calmness and tranquillity. With the aid of pre-recorded script and nature melodies, visitors are able to immerse themselves into the augmented nature experiences and visualize the mental images of smells, colours and sounds to elevate their mood and foster a closer connection to nature.

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CALMING FROM FOCUSING

“

By bringing nature into interior space itself, green views can contribute to positive feelings of fascination and being away from mundane routines (Dzhambov et al., 2021)

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DESIGN REASONING: 3) Nostalgia from listening: Since sound healing and music therapy are the roots of the site programming, it’s no surprise that visitors can enjoy the calming ambience by walking around or meditating in semi-open pavilions. Olszewska-Guizzo et al. (2021) states that not only visuals of the natural environment have an impact on inducing optimistic thoughts and pacify unstable emotions, the nature sounds are also an essential key to promote the relaxing effect as it is considered non-bias to all cultures and pleasant music to the ears. It is proven that through resting while listening to these soundscape, blood pressure and heart rate can be lowered as our anxiety and agitation level are reduced too through the release of endorphins in our nervous systems. Nature sounds such as sounds of fountains, wind chimes, birdsongs, waterfall sounds, river streams, sounds of waves crashing on the shore, soothing rain sounds hitting vegetation from an enclosed shelter and wind gushing through tall trees, can complement the healing procedure as per explained in one of the music therapies called Bonny Method, sounds can be a supportive linking medium to forgotten happy memories when people used to play around in parks as young kids, free from worries and stress.

This further enhances the efficacy of Biophilic Design in terms of non-visual connection with nature through the emphasis on auditory stimuli throughout the spaces. Also, people are able to picture the images in their mind vividly that direct links them to their memories or life events. This can amplify their sentiments and nostalgic affection to bring about positive emotions which are considered beneficial to people that are haunted with traumas or loneliness to mitigate their pain and sufferings. It’s suggested that one’s attention restoration can be prompted through the soft and delicate fascinating properties found in nature as listeners feel ease when hearing them without the need to focus on the background music as it submerges nicely in their subconscious minds. Fisher (1998) also agreed that we might look as if we are disregarding the background sounds but in reality, we are always subconsciously reacting to nature sounds. Times when we thought we pay little notice to them is actually times we regard them as pleasurable because the sounds merge naturally in our minds as it yields freedom of various responses and ways to appreciate its aesthetic attention.

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NOSTALGIA FROM LISTENING

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Yu et al. (2017) explains the reason nature sounds is familiar to us is due to its existence in our daily surroundings, hence, need not take long for us to adapt and recognise the source of it. In relation to that, Barton (2020) further supports that typical nature sounds such as wind and water can recall pleasant personal memories which helps restore their feelings and focus on tasks through listening such familiar sounds that were once considered common in their childhood growing environments.

Using familiarity as an advantage, nature sounds can be picked up and understood easily to use in ambient displays that engenders a calming sonic environment that slow people’s pace and mind down, keeping them engage in whatever activities they are doing in the space in a longer duration. In a survey conducted, it is found out that forest theme sounds are selected to have the best calming effects in comparison to other nature environments such as ocean and grasslands. Mental fatigue recovery is proven efficient by listening to birdsongs from several types of birds like collared dove, cuckoo, silvereye, wren etc.

Acoustic parameters of nature sounds can be manipulated to foster one’s experience of relaxation and peacefulness through overlapping of different nature sounds to be perceived as a harmonious sonic atmosphere. In addition, acoustic foams are implemented on the walls to allow better acoustics of the space so that excessive sound reverberations will not occur. There should be no unwanted noise disturbances as visitors are instructed to keep their phones on silent modes and only pay attention to the audio played through speakers installed in the space.

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CHAPTER 4: CRITICAL REFLECTION

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CRITICAL REFLECTION: Pallasmaa (2012), Pallasmaa (1994), both in his books, “The eyes of the skin: Architecture and the senses” and “An architecture of the seven senses”, criticized how the ocular centric paragon has dulled our other equally important senses into isolation and insensibility.

Architecture has regressed into an inflexible sensory deprived expression tool that inhibits the occupants’ connection to the environment, only serving its futile purpose of a visual journey. In this project, sounds hold the indispensable role to enhance the sensory experience of the visitors instead of just the perspectives through our retinal lenses.

In here we aim to soothe the heartstrings of visitors to immerse themselves in the polyphony of senses, igniting their imagination of eloquent sensory feels while becoming one with the surrounding context as architecture is none other than a man-made extension of nature or perception platform for experiencing and comprehending the environment.

Sounds and music are available and easily accessible to the public and does not need an expensive platform or complex equipment to use for the interior spaces.

“

Since sounds exist in our daily life, people are easier to adapt while listening to it because it gives off a more amicable impression as the visitors enter to further explore the spaces without getting intimidated by something too unfamiliar.

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STRENGTHS

As a result, this makes it possible to match the visitors’ paces and minds can be guided through the tempo of the music while visiting the designated programming in the site. The design elements of the interior spaces can be play around with unique forms and shapes because the range of music language are broad, such as the rhythms, musical textures, harmony, proportions and dynamics through the repetitions of architectural elements, usage of different materials to become a unified space, building’s façade or mass and scales of design elements in spaces respectively. There are plenty of existing precedent studies over the world on the manipulation of music design elements and materials intended for acoustic purposes.

For example, Chimes House in Exeter, England for its expressive movement technique seen in the curvy walls with glass panels in uniform intervals; the Harp-Nieuw Vennep bridge in Netherlands with its harp inspired cable structure and Musical Façade Gutter Funnel Wall in Germany with its mousetrap drain and gutters n various steel cones sizes that plays melodies when rain water drops into the channels. Moreover, using music as a universal communication medium to conduct healing sessions within built environment can attract people from all different backgrounds since music transcends language. There are no restrictions to particular ethnicity or gender and music and sounds healing are appropriate to be celebrated and learnt by the public.

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CRITICAL REFLECTION: When dealing with sounds and music in a space, we cannot avoid the risks of dissonance that will turn the designs into shambles if overlooked. Dissonance, in musical terms, is defined as inharmonious and in interior spaces, it can be manifested as the unprecedented failure of acoustic control or misleading choice of tracks that becomes noise that harms the user experiences. It will definitely not be a minor issue as these audio flaws have to be taken seriously as people are sensitive to pandemonium. Sounds cannot be shut off entirely compared to physical damages that could be removed to avoid the commotion.

Also, objectively speaking, every individual has his own personal taste and preference.

Hence, one’s beautiful melody may be considered as a frustrating headache to the others.

“

A consensus is practically hard to reach among the public but meticulous measures of song or sounds selection can be done to obtain the ‘green light’ from the majority’s opinions.

According to researches made on sonic environments and types of music or sounds that are generally accepted for soothing purposes, rock and pop music might not be plausible to use while nature sounds, classical music and jazz are more befitting for the healing and therapeutic purposes. Since excessive sound reverberations and reflections may affect the users’ experience in the spaces negatively, wise choice of material selection in the built environment has to be put into consideration to reduce noise transmission and ensure users’ comfort during the visit to the site. Highly reflective materials such as marble, masonry, exposed concrete, ceramics etc. have to be sensibly complemented with more absorbent materials, for instance, acoustic foams, perforated plywood, fibrous plaster and others. As sounds are omnidirectional and travels easily among spaces, a single floor cannot be too compacted with too many programming as the scale of the crowd and abundance of activities may lead to unwanted cacophony of noises that might cause discomfort to the visitors.

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WEAKNESSES

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DIRECTION FOR: As opposed to the ocular centrism mentioned earlier, the audio in each space will be the main leading role on the project’s main stage. Since music and sounds need no deep introduction to the public, different background music that are soothing and calming will be adopted in each programming that matches with the intended paces of visitors while engaging with the activities provided in each area.

Theories of music therapies such as Bonny Method and Dalcroze Eurhythmics can be adapted into the space with its method of mental healing. For instance, having a painting or art exhibitions as per suggested in Bonny method to encourage visitors to generate soothing mental images in their minds that bridges the happy memories with the guide of the background music played.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics talks about the possibilities of music education for students to find peace in picking up the rhythms and move along freely to the tempo of the music they hear, hence, having an unconventional spacious music learning area to cater for musical instruments and physical body movements can be considered in the site for more of a private session.

The flexibility of design elements can be showcased in the space by having different integration of voids for soft lighting and shadows to induce the feeling of tranquility; transparency and soft texture of materials indicating softness and serenity; soft and mute tones for calming and relaxing purposes etc

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FOLLOWING SEMESTER On the other hand, instead of having several programming all cramped at one floor, maximum two main programming will be implemented at a single level to prevent accidental mix-up of sounds and noises from different sources that might be jarring and discomforting for the visitors.

There has to be sound insulation by having wall separators or dividers between areas to maintain audio comfort, depending on the intention of the space planned.

Despite being indoor, the space design should take considerations of the negative spaces as crowded space reminds people of the confinement in houses, which might backfire the envisaged therapeutic process.

The overall space design should be inclined towards a minimalistic approach like opting smooth facades, vegetation combination, soft or mute palettes to be unified into consonance that stimulates the emotional resonance with the space. Personal comfort aspects should not be overlooked as well so that the healing spaces provided has to include different intimacy levels, ranging from public to more of a private space.

Careful not to further worsen the agitation and disconcertment of visitors who would be desperately seeking for mindfulness, the ongoing playlist for the background music should be surveyed properly by avoiding risky music genres like metal and punk rock music. Although this cannot be the accurate parameter for each individual, it should be the fundamental for the criteria of arranging the track list.

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