Architecture Installation: Noise as an Element of Urban Identity

In a bustling city, noise has become an inseparable element of the urban landscape. This is precisely what “Buka” (Noise) architecture exhibition delved into, exploring the intricate relationship between private and public spaces in the city. The exhibition, held at Europe House in North Mitrovica from June 19 to July 28th, showcased the urban space with all the noisy disturbances it carries.

The authors behind the exhibition, Jelena Spasojevic and Ertan Redzovic, have been studying public spaces and the social interactions they harbor since 2013. In 2014, they conducted research on the topic with 35 students, focusing on the interaction of public spaces and their users.

“One element of urban space is the private-public relationship. For some reason, the private has become more important than the public. We are aware of its physical limits, while elements such as noise and pollution remain in the background and are present as distractions,” said Redzovic.

The message they aim to convey is to pay attention to the noise that surrounds us and form personal opinions about it. Noise, like marketing elements in public spaces, often becomes a backdrop that distracts us from the city’s essence. It intertwines with our daily lives, from busy cafes and restaurants that occupy public spaces to the noise we carry back home. The installation encouraged viewers to contemplate the significance of noise and its impact on creativity and productivity, reflecting their own thoughts during the research.

Redzovic explained how the installation is a form of modern art, representing a spatial composition created from different elements.

“Entering into extraordinary combinations, the thing gets rid of its utilitarian function, acquiring a symbolic function. Changing the context creates semantic transformations, a game of meaning,” Redzovic said.

As an architect, Redzovic continuously seeks innovative ways to highlight issues and propose solutions. While installations might be a novel form of art, to him and Spasojevic, it becomes a spatial structure that aims to convey an experience as viewers move through it.

The Noise exhibition built upon their previous investigations into public spaces but ventured into new territories. Their focus on the identity and memory of public spaces remains, but now they seek to turn society’s attention towards the creation of high-quality public spaces accessible to all, emphasizing the correlation with public health.