Outsmart the noise

Do you live near a highway, a busy railway line, or in an airport's flight path? Then you're surely familiar with noise problems. Noise can make life in your own home really difficult. And if you want to sell your property, the noise is a major deterrent for most potential buyers. The solution: Overlay the noise with soundscapes!

Have you ever heard of soundscaping? It represents an aesthetically pleasing and minimalist approach to noise reduction – a concept that differs radically from all classic methods of soundproofing, such as unsightly noise barriers. The word is a combination of the English words for sound and landscape. A "soundscape" is created by overlaying unpleasant sounds with pleasant ones.

You've probably encountered soundscaping in many places without even realizing it. For example, in shopping malls or train stations, where more or less subtle background music has been used for some time to "reduce" ambient noise. Even in private gardens with trees and shrubs, or in parks, there's a completely natural form of soundscaping in the form of birdsong. Even though you might be surrounded by the roaring traffic of a big city, you can still surprisingly hear the birds singing. This works because our brain emphasizes more pleasant sounds. Such a natural soundscape can also be created artificially, often through minimal interventions in garden and landscape design.

Rustling leaves dampen the noise

A good example of soundscaping is the targeted cultivation of plants whose leaves rustle pleasantly in the wind. Evergreen bamboo or tall grasses are often chosen for this purpose, as they begin to rustle gently even in the slightest breeze. Hedges and bushes also help reduce noise. However, they must be planted evenly and densely, and the ground must not be bare. Other evergreen plants with large, round leaves – such as ivy – can also work wonders in noise reduction. They effectively absorb and disperse sound, producing the same effect as soundproof walls. Therefore, planting them is an extremely sensible and relatively inexpensive way to enhance a property in a noisy environment and mitigate the negative acoustic impact.

The sound of flowing water refreshes the soul

Another very effective soundscaping option is water features. The sound of trickling water is pleasant for many people and helps to mask surrounding noise. It doesn't even have to be a large fountain; a small bowl with dripping water can be sufficient. For those who find it a bit noisy, a fountain can be used. And for those with a garden pond, a small stream flowing into it might be a lovely solution.

Do you own a property in a challenging location? Contact us. We'd be happy to advise you.

No results found:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundscape

https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/verkehr-laerm/laermwirkung/laermbelaestigung

https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2019/11/PD19_N011_639.html

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