Exploring the relationship between sound and silence, and to communicate this relationship with others, we often refer to a VVSSL simplified framework called the Quadrant of Sound. It is a way for us to illustrate the characteristics of resonant sound and silence in comparison to noise or the absence of a sonic environment.

Uncomfortable Silence in this framework refers to the near or complete disconnection from one's natural environment, reduced to the point at which the only audible thing is your own heartbeat. For many this becomes intolerable within minutes. Placing fingers in your ears or stepping into an anechoic chamber are two ways to come close to this sensation.

Resonant Silence is on the opposite side of this, which is not necessarily the absence of sound, but the absence of sound that disconnects us from our environment, thereby contributing to our connection with the world around us through the sound of wind in the trees, the dawn chorus of birds, distant traffic of an urban landscape or the waves of ocean in the distance.

Uncomfortable Sound is basically noise pollution. Sound that is at odds with or completely disconnects us from our environment. From subtle to overwhelming, we can understand this sound as being in disharmony with the world around us. A construction site, city traffic, a jet engine or a party next door.

Resonant Sound is what remains, and the territory that VVSSL programs focus most. This is sound that fosters our connection between a natural or synthetic environment such as sound installations in synergy with the surrounding nature, or deep listening sessions which provide a synthetic audible landscape of shared experiences for connection.

This has become a useful tool to identify the role sound is playing in our everyday lives not only through our programs, but also in the work of others, in homes, and in the context of understanding where problems might exist in public spaces, urban landscapes, in neighborhoods or simply understanding a key part of our connection to nature.

The “greening of cities” predominantly addresses the visual world. Traffic flow, sustainable architecture, the zoning of parks. Yet sound plays an equally significant role in this discussion, one that remains largely unconsidered. Oftentimes that which results in resonant sound and silence is also conducive to the use of sustainable materials in place of parallel structures of concrete and steel, where simply planting more trees absorbs the sound of traffic, sirens, and noise.

As cities grow and physical space is increasingly shared, our sonic environment is an integral part of the conversation. The Quadrant of Sound is an invitation to support that, for architects, urban planners, artists, and anyone who has ever sought refuge in the sound of rain, or felt the specific exhaustion of a day spent in noise.