What does Plac Grunwaldzki sound like? Is it just the noisy roundabout, trams, and constant street noise? Or perhaps there's something more hidden here—the soothing rustle of trees and forgotten sounds that give this part of Wrocław its unique character? Join us for sound walks led by Marta Konieczna on June 5th and 7th!
The roar of cars circling around Rondo Reagan and the clanging of tram bells, vibrating every window along Szczytnicka Street. But also the roar of the Oder River heard from the Pasteur Coast, the rustle of old trees, and the dull clatter of cobblestones two streets over. What does Plac Grunwaldzki sound like?
We'll ask ourselves this question as we sharpen and sensitize our hearing during two sound walks through this heterogeneous (including sonically!) Plac Grunwaldzki housing estate. We'll train our ears with a series of exercises derived from soundscape studies to capture what we normally miss as we move through the city. Perhaps we'll discover that the bell at the entrance to the nearby shop is the very signal that shapes our day in our neighborhood?
Immersed in the sounds of "Grunwald," we will also discuss acoustic ecology and reflect on the impact of noise on our well-being and that of our surroundings. Together, we will recreate the soundscape of Grunwaldzki Square, not forgetting the echoes of memories from years past. Two walks will be conducted along two different routes, each with varying degrees of noise and sound intensity. The first will lead through the "noisy" part of the estate, while the second will lead through its "quieter" corners. However, as will become clear after both sessions, neither of these adjectives are sufficient to describe what we hear and how we listen.
Walk schedule:
- June 5, 2025 (Thursday), 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Meeting point: Kazimierz Idaszewski Square (near the Wrocław University of Science and Technology)
How to get to the meeting point: Trams: 4, 12, 13, 16, 19 (stop Plac Grunwaldzki), Bus: D, 145, 146, 149 (stop Plac Grunwaldzki)
- June 7, 2025 (Saturday), 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Meeting point: CAL Plac Grunwaldzki OD NOWA, ul. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 63a
Directions to the meeting point: Trams: 0, 1, 2, 4, T, 10, 19 (Kliniki stop) Buses: 115, 116, 145, 146 (Kliniki stop). Get off at the Kliniki stop and head towards Solleim, after which you turn into the courtyard (from the stop you can see a mural that will serve as a signpost).
How to sign up?
- by form: https://forms.gle/PnHr3bDB8HQWiEop6
- by phone (71) 757 15 87 or (+48) 573 815 456 (Monday, Tuesday, Friday from 10:00 to 16:00; Wednesday and Thursday from 13:00 to 19:00)
- by email: placgrunwaldzki@ladnehistorie.pl
Participation in the meetings is free, and the only requirement is prior registration. Participation in the series constitutes acceptance of the following regulations: Rules of participation.pdf
About the walk leader:
Marta Konieczna Music critic and sound culture promoter. Co-curator and producer of the Canti Spazializzati workshop and concert series. Previously, she was the editor of the contemporary music magazine "Glissando." She publishes in "Ruch Muzyczny," and her texts have also appeared in "Dwutygodnik," "Krytyka Polityczna," and "Mint Magazine." She holds a BA in Music in the Media from the Academy of Music in Łódź and a MA in Musicology from the University of Wrocław. She works at the Wrocław Institute of Culture.
„"Sounds of Grunwaldzki Square" is a project implemented by the Ładne Historie Foundation and co-financed by the Municipality of Wrocław (www.wroclaw.pl). The events are co-organized by Academic Radio LUZ and Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
