2000
Our perception of space depends as much on what we hear as what we see.
Max Neuhaus, December 11, 2000
Max Neuhaus gave a lecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. In the lecture, titled "The Role of Sound in Design," Neuhaus expanded on his pioneering work and his central thesis, that auditory perception is as crucial as visual perception in defining our experience of space. He argued that the physical design of a space and its sonic environment are profoundly interconnected.
The Lecture
The talk focused on Neuhaus's work and his approach to sound, architecture, and design.
He challenged the traditional dominance of the visual in architectural design and emphasized the need for a more holistic consideration of the built environment. He argued that sound is not simply an effect within a space, but an integral element capable of shaping and defining it.
The event was sponsored by the Lisson Gallery in London, which has a long history of representing experimental and conceptual artists.
The lecture was given to students and faculty at the Bartlett School, one of the world's most prestigious architecture schools, helping introduce Neuhaus's ideas to a new generation of designers.
A 31-minute video recording of the lecture is preserved in the Max Neuhaus Archives at the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Neuhaus's Philosophy on Sound and Space
Neuhaus's presentation at the Bartlett School condensed decades of work and research, beginning in the late 1960s, that pushed beyond the confines of music into the realm of site-specific sound installations.