From Noema Magazine, a look at ways of cutting down on noise pollution in cities. I live in a neighbourhood where the trains are so loud at night that I can’t sleep without a white noise machine—this isn’t the pleasant chug-chug of trains passing by, it’s the screeching brakes and slamming cars of a rail yard—and have become much more conscious of noise pollution in recent years.

Two examples that really stood out: Germany (and other parts of Europe) use a “quiet asphalt” that has more empty spaces in it, which reduces friction and noise from high-speed traffic. This asphalt is more expensive to maintain, but they’ve made the decision to prioritize a more liveable urban environment, so they extra cost is worth it. And similarly, at least some subways and trains in Japan use rubber wheels instead of steel—again, it costs more to maintain, but they feel it’s worth the cost.

I also appreciated that the article goes beyond talking about just reducing noise to talk about good sound. Silence isn’t the goal, it’s a space that feels alive and welcoming, but that also allows for human interaction and contemplation. Bird sounds, outside conversations that are loud enough to be aware of but quiet enough to remain in the background—once you remove the constant din of urban sounds, there’s room for a soundscape that’s lively and nourishing, instead of damaging.

Our urban environment is something we’ve built and it’s something we can improve. Efficiency has its benefits, but it’s also important to build a world where human comfort is at least a factor in what we’re building. As the article points out, noise pollution affects how we think, how we feel, and our actual physical health—not to mention its impact on the birds and other animals that can make a space feel so welcoming. It’s inspiring to see places where noise is more than just an afterthought.