Music in the Air

How can we design cities for Romance? Does that make it smart?While it adds charm, it keeps its people happy

I was ruminating the thought of a silent city, that had germinated from a module I was teaching on Speculative design. One of my students was narrating a city where speaking is profane. The critic slowly shifted on to music. What if people want to sing upon their own free will? What if I want to share my happiness out loud in public and dance over it?

I vividly remembered this street artist, near the Metropolitan metro station in Paris. Photo:Author

“Well, music can be personal and privately heard, may be with earphones” said the student emphasizing on keeping silence in his imaginary city. My mind started projecting images of people riding with me in the metro train, listening Bangra on loud volumes on their earphones, so much so that I entertain myself by guessing the songs they are listening to and hide my grin when I get it right or even worse tie my feet from tapping to my favorite ones. I have wished at times, what if they played the radio in the train? may be I will exchange some smiles with my fellow passengers on a witty RJ, or even laugh over an ad between some popular tracks. I see a value on that specific passenger group that sets out on a mundane routine of travelling everyday.

“ In urban scenarios, Music is about peer learning & Silence is about introspection.”

Yes, I certainly think Silence is important. Its decent, it is more civil than random noise from a radio. But may be we are missing out on some civic engagements there. Silence aids introspection, lets one think peacefully. But music expands empathy. Quiet neighborhood and environments do feed us differently. I could indulge in hikes to national parks, mountains and forests, in its place, in search of human silence I suppose. My wonder is, silence, over a point, can merely lead to navel-gazing. Silence is personal, private. Music can be public and open. Retrospect, As the Fiddle player casts a charm with the setting sun at Udaipur lake. Photo: Author“ In urban scenarios, Music is about peer learning & Silence is about introspection.” Since this thought dawned upon me, I have been wondering how can music and silence be interwoven with urban design. How can we include street performances into our urbanscapes? Where and when does silence occur.

City Scapes

Topography decides the design of a city. Hill tops may suite a quite retrospecting garden or temples while the valley may have busy markets with flutes whistling in the air. Shores over look the sea in silence, where as the promenade can have some street performers adding spice to the salty winds by the side. By the river sides, I picture folks playing the fiddle above the ghats witnessing women and children silently floating lamps in twilight, by river bed below. I would cheer up the market with music and leave the nature for privacy seekers. A city must provide vistas for both, because romance humbles people, it keeps us all in the realm of humanity. It can guard us from getting consumed into the warp of urban routines.

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