Exploring the effects of street performances on the Quality of Urban Public Space
2023 - ongoing
Richard Yanaky, Catherine Guastavino
What are the relationships between the presence of street performance and the quality of urban public spaces?
Does the street performance impact people’s perceptions of urban space?
How do street performance impact space utilization and user behaviors?
Street performances, or busking, encompass various entertainment acts that take place in urban public spaces. These performances add significant cultural and artistic value to public spaces, offering free entertainment that captures the attention of passerby. This study investigates how street performances influence the perception and behavior of people in urban public space using virtual reality technology.
The research focuses on understanding if and how street performances alter sound-related evaluations in virtual urban environment, comparing different settings such as street and park. The psychological outcomes of street music performances, including their potential to provide restorative experiences or change their mood. Additionally, the study investigates how the performance affects the way people use these spaces, specifically their choices of where to stay and their interest areas.
Using a 3D virtual environment called “City Ditty”, the study simulates different soundscapes and scenarios to provide controlled experimental conditions. Participants experience various settings with live performance music, music played through speakers, and baseline environments without music. The data will offer insight into how sound environments influence urban public experiences.
For more details contact : Chang Miao, Catherine Guastavino