Maryam Sheikh

Sound; a composite which is in dire need of disintegration in a city like London which is brimming with noise pollution; a material that has become suppressed in bedlam. People tend to forget the beauty of mundane sounds; the friction between the sole of a shoe and the surface texture creating a subtle reverberation of footsteps in a narrow alleyway is a composition in itself. These sounds are the very essence of the art form – Foley – everyday sounds which are reproduced by Foley artists for use in post-production in film. With the development of technology post production studios now rely on sound effect libraries which have pre-recorded sounds, diminishing the need for Foley studios.

The foundation of this thesis project lies within the existing rich history of music in Soho, and the essence of Foley creating a hybrid interior cultivating more opportunities for Foley artists and reviving the art form for the public to immerse themselves in. The journey takes place in Walkers Court as the public experience a clavier of diverse textures infilled within the acoustic chamber formed in this narrow alleyway; a journey which continues within the existing context of the interior space. The design approach of the building is based on the notion of an instrument; with different materials protruding outwards at various levels creating a symphony of sound.