In the wake of present European interest for mapping urban noise, it seems increasingly
relevant to investigate the multiple ways in which sound intersects with the everyday
experiences of urban citizens. Focusing on the polluting effects of infrastructural noise,
the EU-initiated project of assessment and management of environmental noise brings
forth the disturbing and potentially damaging effect of environmental sound.1 But as
maps of coloured streets start to circulate, and real estate prices drop in designated blue
and red areas,2 it is worth remembering that sound itself is not a killer. Most of the time
sound is a trivial part of everyday life involved in interactions, experiences, atmospheres,
actions, etc. Although trivial, the role of the aural in the urban life world is more complex
than what is suggested by sound level maps, and as such it may be a vital part of urbanity
itself. The challenge for planners, designers, and architects is to deal with the auditory not
only as pollution but also as an integrated part of urban experience, promoting fellowship
and liveliness as well as distress.