What We Tune Out: An Everyday Soundwalk Through Stratford

7 ECHOES

Location: Stratford, Ontario, Canada

What We Tune Out takes you through seven everyday places in Stratford, from the University of Waterloo Stratford campus to Shakespearean Gardens. Through reconstructed soundscapes and short narrations, the walk brings attention to the little sounds we often overlook. Put on your headphones and follow the numbered stops to hear familiar places a little differently!

University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business

Campus is where the walk begins, surrounded by the activity of people arriving, leaving, and moving between classes. This scene follows a small journey through the building, from the hallway to the elevator. It introduces the everyday routines we’ll pay closer attention to throughout the walk.

1 sound

Taylor's Delicatessen

A takeaway order might only take a few minutes, but several small tasks happen before it reaches the customer. This scene captures that brief exchange, from preparing a package to handing it over. Its quieter pace offers a closer look at an ordinary part of the day.

1 sound

The Livery Yard

A café can be somewhere to meet a friend, finish an assignment, or take a break. While customers settle into their own activities, work continues behind the counter. This scene brings those two sides of the space together through a familiar coffee-making routine.

1 sound

Sound Fixation

Choosing a record is part of the experience of a record shop, not just something that happens before listening. This scene moves from browsing through a collection to selecting and playing a record. It makes room for the physical routine behind something we usually associate with music.

1 sound

Ross' Bike Works

We often see a repaired bicycle once it’s ready to ride, without noticing the small adjustments that got it there. This scene follows a short sequence of maintenance and a final wheel check. It gives a usually overlooked process a moment of attention.

1 sound

Pazzo Pizzeria

A meal at Pazzo is one small part of everything happening in the restaurant. As people eat and catch up, staff prepare food, serve tables, and clear dishes. This scene draws attention to the everyday activity that can go unnoticed during a busy meal.

1 sound

Shakespearean Gardens

The walk ends at Shakespearean Gardens, with a slower pace after the activity of downtown. This scene follows a short approach to the water, leaving room to settle into the surroundings. The ending carries the experience beyond the recording and into the place where you’re standing.

1 sound

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