Derbal R., Zeghlache H.

In the case of open or urban spaces, one is often confronted with situations extremely complex and difficult to handle as far as noise nuisance is concerned. Acoustics related considerations are often taken to be secondary in most of the design process of public places. This fact always leads to an unpredictable noise and urban sonic environment round such spaces. Studies and observations have shown the importance of the noise and the quality of the urban sonic environment in the social practice and in the daily use of public places. These places strongly mark the degree of dynamism of the urban structure of our cities and are often subjected to a very complex situation of noise nuisance. Therefore, the role of such space as an element of conviviality and sociability has been found to be completely compromised. The main aim of the study is to introduce a source of noise that might have an effect of recomposing positively a deficient sonic environment of such places. This approach is also to try to restore the sound in its utilitarian and practical function and to articulate the perception of the spatial and temporal aspects of the public place. It could be an element of transforming urban noise into a peaceful soudscape. A fountain turned out to be that sonic source and which can be easily introduced in the architectural and urban environment round the public places. It is a sort of urban instrumentation used in order to recompose or requalify urban noise environment. KEYWORDS : Public place – sonic environment – design - urban noise - fountain - social practice -