spæs - lab for spatial aesthetics in sound Berlin

25/02/2025

UPDATE ON SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG
First and foremost, we want to thank everyone for their reactions, comments, and suggestions regarding the catalog. The catalog serves as an open invitation to anyone interested in working in this field and those who have been engaged in related disciplines for years. We see this endeavor as a dynamic, ever-evolving platform that can never be truly complete. Spatial audio is not a brand or a singular technology; it is a cultural process, and we are all part of it. After gathering recommendations from comments and emails, we will soon proceed with an update. Meanwhile, we will add a module on the catalog homepage for submitting tools to help us track contributions more effectively.

INTRODUCING: THE SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG

spæs lab proudly presents a new resource for practitioners, artists, researchers, and anyone engaging with spatial audio: the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog.

Spatial audio is a dynamic and intricate field in which tools evolve rapidly and may lead to outcomes that challenge initial expectations. This catalog aims to provide clarity and structure as a foundational resource for experimentation and critical engagement. It includes a curated selection of the most significant sound spatialization tools and an extensive Zotero archive of published literature.

This work reflects the efforts of Edoardo Cordero, who conducted comprehensive research and cataloged the tools, and Allaeldene Ilou .ilou, who curated and organized the supporting bibliography within the research archive. Their idea of working on an archive of tools with related publications emerged from their internship at spæs lab and is the result of more than a year and a half of research grounded in a shared commitment to the exploration of sound and space.

Bridging scientific research and practical application and comprehensively summarizing spatial audio's technical and aesthetic dimensions, the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog is not merely a repository but a platform for collective analysis and collaboration. We warmly invite feedback, contributions, and dialogue from diverse fields.

Access the catalog here:
https://spaes.org/catalog

17/02/2025

INTRODUCING: THE SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG

spæs lab proudly presents a new resource for practitioners, artists, researchers, and anyone engaging with spatial audio: the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog.

Spatial audio is a dynamic and intricate field in which tools evolve rapidly and may lead to outcomes that challenge initial expectations. This catalog aims to provide clarity and structure as a foundational resource for experimentation and critical engagement. It includes a curated selection of the most significant sound spatialization tools and an extensive Zotero archive of published literature.

This work reflects the efforts of Edoardo Cordero, who conducted comprehensive research and cataloged the tools, and Allaeldene Ilou .ilou, who curated and organized the supporting bibliography within the research archive. Their idea of working on an archive of tools with related publications emerged from their internship at spæs lab and is the result of more than a year and a half of research grounded in a shared commitment to the exploration of sound and space.

Bridging scientific research and practical application and comprehensively summarizing spatial audio's technical and aesthetic dimensions, the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog is not merely a repository but a platform for collective analysis and collaboration. We warmly invite feedback, contributions, and dialogue from diverse fields.

Access the catalog here:
https://spaes.org/catalog

11/02/2025

WHAT IS SOUND?

Sound is one of the fundamental concepts of spæs lab. But what does it refer to? The physical sound source, the listening experience? Do sound waves carry meaning? Does it even require sound waves to perceive sound?
We all develop our individual understanding of what the term sound means to us. Now, we find it's time to share our take, and we invite you to read the article that reflects the result of countless conversations, spatial practices, listening sessions, and readings:

sound — a dynamic, emergent, and contextual phenomenon
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sound-dynamic-emergent-contextual-phenomenon-spaes-berlin-ebqwe

As we continuously think about and refine concepts at spæs lab, the text should be read as a working definition subject to change. For this reason, we welcome you to share your thoughts about it in the comments below. How is spæs lab's definition of practical use to your work? In which ways can you connect—or not?

20/01/2025

❗Less than a week left to apply for the 2025 RESIDENCY — SOUND & SPACE❗

Deadline: January 25th, 2025

Artists, designers, practitioners, composers, engineers, scholars, researchers, and others coming from all fields of interest whose work intersects with sound and space are welcome to submit an application for our 2025 residency program in Berlin. This program provides a unique opportunity to explore the spatial aesthetics of sound through experimentation, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Residents will have access to our spatial sound studios, professional support, and the chance to contribute to a growing body of shared knowledge. The program prioritizes the creative process and critical inquiry rather than focusing solely on final outputs.

Application deadline: 25.01.2025.

Please visit our website for more details about how to apply:

https://spaes.org/residency

15/01/2025

The Sound of Space: An Invitation to Listen Differently

Join us on January 28, 2025, for the launch of The Routledge Companion to the Sound of Space. This event brings together leading voices in architecture and sound, including a performance by Gerriet K. Sharma, co-founder of spæs lab. Gerriet will present his work with the Icosahedral Loudspeaker (IKO), an instrument that redefines how sound interacts with space. His chapter, Fluid Architectures and Aural Sculpturality, explores the interplay between sound and spatial environments, focusing on how these interactions shape our perceptions.

Date: January 28, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Ground Floor Exhibition Space, The Bartlett School of Architecture, London

About the Book: The Routledge Companion to the Sound of Space offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the relationships between sound and space, spanning fields like architecture, music, and design. It is a resource for practitioners and scholars interested in exploring sound as a medium for creating and understanding spatial environments.

Join us for a day of thoughtful workshops, performances, and discussions that illuminate the profound connections between sound and space.

Free entry. Open to all. Link in the first comment.

20/12/2024

2025 OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS -- RESIDENCY -- SOUND & SPACE

We are inviting applications for our 2025 residency program in Berlin. This program provides a unique opportunity to explore the spatial aesthetics of sound through experimentation, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Residents will have access to our spatial sound studios, professional support, and the chance to contribute to a growing body of shared knowledge. The program prioritizes the creative process and critical inquiry rather than focusing solely on final outputs.

Applications are now open. Please visit our website for more details on how to apply (link in bio).

14/05/2024

For, Before, And After Silence: new website https://www.gksh.net/.

Over the past three years, I have dedicated myself to establishing spæs Lab Berlin (www.spaes.org) as a community and opportunity for you and others to engage in artistic spatial utopia at Funkhaus Berlin. This initiative stemmed from discussions and exchanges, particularly during the lockdown, prompting questions about the essence of future media art, sound art, and music in light of the conditions of our communities and economies.

As a result of this introspective process, I have decided to reassess my own work and contemplate how I can contribute to the current state of affairs with the knowledge I possess. I am deeply moved by the developments at spæs Lab Berlin, and if you are receiving this email, you likely have been involved in the ideas, planning, organization, or mindsets that supported this endeavour during these challenging times, without relying on institutional backing.
The lab is now established and has formed a community so that I can concentrate more on my own artistic work again.

During this period of reflection, introspection, and contemplative silence, I have thoroughly revisited my personal archive of compositions, installations, and publications spanning the past 20 years.
You can explore this collection here: www.gksh.net (old and new address, featuring a reconfigured website).
If you are in Berlin, please feel free to reach out to spæs Lab if you wish to visit, develop your utopian visions, seek exchange, or simply peruse a book from our library.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for all your contributions, friendship, and support.
The continued possibility of our work is owed to the atmosphere we have cultivated and will endeavour to sustain for as long as possible.

Gerriet Krishna Sharma

architecture music