Bus Sound Accentuation through Sensory Technology in Adaptive Transit Architecture

¹ Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Kampus ITS Sukolilo 60111, Surabaya, Indonesia
² Department of Architecture, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeonggu, Busan 46241, Korea

^* Corresponding author: samodra@its.ac.id

Abstract

Architecture can respond to temporary phenomena, such as the Eid al-Fitr exodus, through an experience-based spatial approach. This study examines how bus sounds, as a key marker of mass movement during the exodus, can be architecturally processed using a vibration-based sensory system. Drawing on Plowright's conceptual method, the design explores a dynamic soundscape that integrates the moment and the atmosphere of space. The system comprises a special bumper that generates vibrations as the bus passes, a piezoelectric microphone that captures these vibrations, and a sound-reflective fabric that directs the resonance toward the microphone. The resulting sound is then channeled to loudspeakers at strategic transit points. This concept is applied to the context of a shadow terminal, an informal transit space active only during the exodus season. The results demonstrate that integrating sound into site elements can enhance spatial perception and create a more adaptive spatial experience that is responsive to time and context. Thus, bus sounds are not only recorded but also re-curated as atmospheric triggers in a temporary architectural landscape.