Aural Dissipation: Investigating Spatial Acoustic Behavior Through Electroacoustic Harp Performance and Multichannel Spatialization in a Cooling Tower

Aural Dissipation is a site-specific sound installation that explores the possibility of perceiving architectural space as an acoustic instrument. The work takes place inside the cooling tower of a decommissioned power plant, where the structure’s volume and reverberant surfaces become sonic material to be investigated through a live performance for harp and electroacoustic processing. The harp, performed directly within the space, activates and modulates the environment: the sound is captured, processed in real time, and diffused through a discrete multichannel spatialization system. The installation is preceded by an acoustic survey phase, including impulse response measurements and reverberation analysis, aimed at understanding the spatial behavior of sound and informing the design of the diffusion setup. The project is part of a broader research framework focused on the role of sound in design processes, and it proposes a critical interplay between musical gesture, architecture, and immersive audio technologies. Expected outcomes include acoustic data, critical reflections, and documentation materials that contribute to formulating new transdisciplinary strategies rooted in sonic design thinking, emphasizing the potential of sound as a tool for interpreting, activating, and reconfiguring space.