1 research outputs found
The Past Has Ears (PHE): XR Explorations of Acoustic Spaces as Cultural Heritage
Hearing is one of our most pervasive senses. There is no
equivalent to closing our eyes, or averting our gaze, for the ears. When
we think about great architectural achievements in European history,
such as ancient amphitheatres or Gothic cathedrals, their importance
is strongly tied to their acoustic environment. The acoustics of a heritage
site is an intangible consequence of the space's tangible construction
and furnishings. Inspired by the project's namesake (Phe, for the
constellation Phoenix), and the relatively recent res at Cathedrale de
Notre Dame de Paris and Teatro La Fenice opera hall, the PHE project
focuses on virtual reconstruction of heritage sites, bringing them back
from the ashes. In addressing the intangible acoustic heritage of architectural
sites, three main objectives have been identied for this research
project: Documentation, Modelling, and Presentation. In parallel, three
heritage sites are participating as case studies: Tindari Theatre (IT),
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral (FR), and The Houses of Parliament
(UK). The acoustics of a space is immersive, spatial, and due to the nature
of auditory perception egocentric, in contrast to visual perception
of an object, which can be observed from outside". Consequently, presentation
methods for communicating acoustic heritage must represent
the spatially immersive and listener-centric nature of acoustics. PHE will
lead development of a museum grade hardware/software prototype for
the presentation of immersive audio experiences adaptable to multiple
platforms, from on-site immersive speaker installations, to mobile XR
via smartphone applications