Sounding the Viscous Porosity of Dwelling: A Noisescape of Shophouse Dwelling in Talad Noi
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Abstract
Noise pollution has long been a critical issue affecting the well-being of urban dwellers in Bangkok. This article presents a noisescape study of the Talat Noi neighborhood in Bangkok, exploring the experiences of Mei, a 28-year-old screenwriter and lifelong resident. Existing studies in Thailand lack the depth to capture lived experiences, focusing instead on technical analysis. This research fills that gap by using the concept of viscous porosity to understand the noisescape not merely as sound, but as the flow of objects and conditions across scales, from the body and home to the neighborhood. With an ethnography of noise, I conducted home visits and interviews to document how sounds from metal workshops and dogs form permeate and bind these different scales. This study reveals that the neighborhood’s identity is not simply a source of “positive cultural heritage”; it also has tangible impacts on local liveability. This research proposes that the development of historic neighborhoods must integrate dimensions of sensory experience and well-being, moving beyond a narrow focus on architectural preservation or creative economics.
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