Tuesday, March 20, 2012

ACOUSTIC MIRRORS...




In a tutorial with Mark Vernon this week, whilst speaking about objects that emphasize sound he mentioned these acoustic mirrors that were used in war time. Sound mirrors were built on the south and north east coasts of England in between 1916 and 1930 before radar had been invented to concentrate sound waves. These huge structures were used as "listening ears" to prevent attack and designed as early warning devices for the coasts of Britain. Sound would reflect and bounce off the spherical surfaces as a way to keep sonic surveillance of the skies and sea. I very much like these structures, they are fascinating as historic devices of communicating but aslo show immense power as architectural and sculptural forms. They have now been left to slowly deteriorate within the landscape...

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