Post-hoc Analysis of the Two Temporary Acoustic Shelters in London

The research focuses on two temporary pavilions designed as acoustic shelters in urban open space: Serpentine Pavilion built in the forecourt of the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens in 2011 and the Be Open Sound Portal pavilion built at the Trafalgar Square in 2012, both being heritage sites in London. The Swiss architect Peter Zumthor designed the former pavilion, while the latter was designed by the English firm Arup. It was recognised that the same soundscape design model - an acoustic shelter - has been applied in open spaces of different aural context. Both have been dismantled in the time of this research. With the aim to show from which types of soundscape could acoustic shelters in urban open space shield, monaural onsite measurement was performed in October 2015 in order to gain insight in the aural context differences between the former immediate pavilion surroundings. The difference is clearly visible in the frequency of sonic events, their spectral composition and average sound pressure level. The research was conducted within the framework of two research projects at the University of Zagreb - Urbanscape Emanation and Heritage Urbanism (HRZZ 2032).