Sound Refuges: Why Does Your City Need an Audiorama?
In Sound Refuges: Why Does Your City Need an Audiorama?, Andrea Conde reflects on the need to create public spaces that function as thresholds of silence, where music and reading intertwine to create contemplative atmospheres that invite pause and nurture our everyday creativity.
“I have nature, art, and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is?” – Vincent van Gogh
In an urban environment, we need spaces where the noise fades and we can truly listen to ourselves. Places that invite pause, where the mind can breathe, ideas can blossom, and we can remember, without hurry, that we are human: unique, sensitive, and deeply creative.
Hombre de la tercera edad leyendo en el espacio público / Old man reading outdoors
Fotografía / Photography: vía Canva
In a society where attention and information intake are increasingly limited, music (with the right curation) combined with reading can form a powerful duo to sustain focus during a recreational and relaxing session.
Today, there are countless types of spaces that offer us well-being. However, one in particular has caught my attention: the concept of the “Audiorama.” An open-air space immersed in nature, or nestled within a park, designed to fuse greenery, rest, reading, and music into a single experience, like a soothing oasis.
Gente descansando. Audiorama de Chapultepec. / People resting. Chapultepec’ s Audiorama.
Fotografía / Photography: Flickr
In Mexico City, we can find several examples. The most iconic is the Audiorama in Chapultepec Park. Founded in 1972, it is located where, according to the Mexicas in pre-Hispanic times, there was a cave believed to lead to Mictlán, a portal between the living and the dead. This space is one of the first of its kind in the country and features a daily changing music selection, ranging from classical to new wave and jazz.
Persona observando libros. Audiorama de Chapultepec. / Person looking at books. Chapultepec ‘s Audiorama.
Fotografía / Photography: Gobierno de la Ciudad de México
Within the space, you can find wild plants, fruit trees, and a variety of shrubs. Additionally, visitors can borrow books for free to read on-site.
Another great example is the Audiorama in Parque México, located in the Cuauhtémoc borough. This space is particularly special because it was once abandoned, and thanks to the interest and efforts of local residents, it was restored and transformed into a place for enjoyment and relaxation. Like the previous one, it features curated music and a small library, part of a community-driven initiative supported by neighborhood reading groups and collectives.
Leyendo en el Audiorama del Parque México / Reading at the Audiorama in Parque México
Fotografía / Photography: Eneas de troya via Flickr
Audioramas redefine the way we spend our free time. I often imagine what it would be like to have a space like this in one of the most iconic parks in my city, it would undoubtedly draw the attention of young people and individuals of all ages seeking a moment of disconnection, allowing themselves to reconnect with nature and the most creative parts of who we are.
Audioramas give new meaning to our free time, allowing us to disconnect in order to reconnect with nature and our most creative selves.
Disfrutando de la lectura / Enjoying a good read
Fotografía / Photography: Eneas de troya via Flickr
Finally, I believe it’s worth opening up conversations around these topics. By putting our ideas about the city into words, we not only express what we need, but also plant seeds of awareness in others. Little by little, we begin to collectively imagine spaces that reflect our desire for well-being, creativity, and connection. After all, a park can also be a reflection of who we are and what we long for as a community.
Lee bajo un árbol / Read under a tree
Fotografía / Photography: Erick Scheel via Flickr
