The Akustikon
The City of Linz and the Province of Upper Austria decided not to fund Acoustic City anymore. Therefore the Akustikon – World of Hearing at Pfarrgasse 9-13 in the Old City of Linz had to close by the ende of June 2010. This means that beside the Kepler-Salon, a popular discourse format saved py private initiative, literally nothing initiated by Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture is left – only six months after the end of the programme that was supposed to be a longlasting impulse for the culture life of the City.Consternation and lack of understanding dominated the reactions to the political decision that meant the end of an acoustic museum that had attracted 16.000 visitors in only year of service.
The two Polyphons were the pride of the house. The acoustic machines of wonder are masterpieces of furniture art and of sophisticated sound technology. Each individual drawer harbors a certain sound. Opening the drawer brings the sound to life.
With the Polyphon (I) Harmonia mundi visitors can dive into the infinite sonic world of the universe in 672 drawers and set out in search of the harmonies of the solar system. The Polyphon (II) Forbidden Sounds holds music whose creators have been branded, driven away, oppressed, banned and persecuted in different times and places under “multifarious” dictatorships or regimes for racist, political, religious or aesthetic reasons. A place of listening to unheard sounds.
Ear Trumpets
Three over-sized ear trumpets lead from the Main Square of Linz, from the square Pfarrplatz and from the sky above the roof along the baroque facade into the Akustikon, where the urban soundscape picked up from far away becomes present in a special audio chamber. The visibility of the Akustikon in the city conversely goes hand in hand with the audibility of the city in the Akustikon – a fascinating interplay.
Three over-sized ear trumpets lead from the Main Square of Linz, from the square Pfarrplatz and from the sky above the roof along the baroque facade into the Akustikon, where the urban soundscape picked up from far away becomes present in a special audio chamber. The visibility of the Akustikon in the city conversely goes hand in hand with the audibility of the city in the Akustikon – a fascinating interplay.
Auditon Laboratory
The principles of acoustics with their fundamental phenomena are not only on paper – here in the Auditon Laboratory they can be heard and experienced.
The principles of acoustics with their fundamental phenomena are not only on paper – here in the Auditon Laboratory they can be heard and experienced.
Auditon Hearing Loss
From the joy of hearing to the loss of hearing: the various stages of hearing impairment are simulated here, which can also stem from earphones placed deep in the ear.
Auditon Reflection
Visitors can use a “joystick” to direct special loud speakers to various materials such as cement, glass or fabric. This makes clear to us how building and traffic deeply affect us: through reflection.
Visitors can use a “joystick” to direct special loud speakers to various materials such as cement, glass or fabric. This makes clear to us how building and traffic deeply affect us: through reflection.
Auditon Sonic Space
Straight and smooth walls, usually parallel as well, toss sonic waves through the space like a ball. This results in unpleasant, even oppressive realities. The effect bears a suspicious resemblance to the rush of traffic noise between building fronts.
Straight and smooth walls, usually parallel as well, toss sonic waves through the space like a ball. This results in unpleasant, even oppressive realities. The effect bears a suspicious resemblance to the rush of traffic noise between building fronts.
Auditon Sonic Tube
Form, material and dimension create very different, sometimes curious and eerie experiences of sound, such as those that occur in our built environment, but also occasionally in nature, for instance in caves.
Form, material and dimension create very different, sometimes curious and eerie experiences of sound, such as those that occur in our built environment, but also occasionally in nature, for instance in caves.
Auditon Sonic Cylinder
Changing our location changes the sonic dynamics and thus also the quality of perception and orientation. A walk-in cylinder with a smooth interior makes this phenomenon especially clear.
Changing our location changes the sonic dynamics and thus also the quality of perception and orientation. A walk-in cylinder with a smooth interior makes this phenomenon especially clear.
Auditon Black Box
The elimination of all noises does not at all lead to the quiet desired by many. Anechoic space creates a feeling of distress, because we lose our sense of orientation and balance.
The elimination of all noises does not at all lead to the quiet desired by many. Anechoic space creates a feeling of distress, because we lose our sense of orientation and balance.
The Memorabilion – Sounding Souvenirs
The Memorabilion – the museum shop of the Akustikon, so to speak – offers souvenirs that help to understand, measure and arrange acoustic space. From convenient volume measurement devices to Audio Memory for children, you will find everything here for the re-discovered sense of hearing.
AKUSTIKON – WORLD OF HEARING
closed since June 28, 2010
Pfarrgasse 13, A-4020 Linz, Austria.
office@akustikon.at
closed since June 28, 2010
Pfarrgasse 13, A-4020 Linz, Austria.
office@akustikon.at
