Reimagining the Airport Experience Through Sound
Airports are remarkable places — hubs of movement, anticipation, and connection. They’re also among the most stimulating environments we encounter: layered with announcements, chatter, machinery, and music that isn’t always intentional. For many, this sensory load contributes to travel anxiety and fatigue long before boarding begins.
I recently had the opportunity to bring a sound bath activation to Toronto Pearson International Airport through the YYZ Live program. It was one of the most meaningful projects of my career. As passengers paused — some sitting quietly, others standing with their luggage — I witnessed a subtle but powerful shift in the atmosphere.
In a space designed for transit, people found a moment of presence. Parents and children listened together. Strangers smiled and shared gratitude before moving on. It reminded me that creating calm in busy environments isn’t about stopping movement; it’s about supporting it differently.
That experience reaffirmed something I’ve long believed: when sound is designed with care, it can transform how we feel in a space.
🎧 Rethinking What an Airport Sounds Like
Airport design often prioritizes visual cues — architecture, signage, lighting — yet sound has just as much influence on how people experience space. Environmental psychologists have long noted that auditory stimuli affect emotion, cognition, and perception of time. In a setting as dynamic as an airport, sound becomes a design material — one that can either elevate or erode the passenger experience.
So I began to ask:
What does an airport sound like — and how might that sound better reflect a sense of ease and hospitality?
Could music, tone, and intentional silence help support the nervous system before takeoff?
This became the foundation of a broader concept: Sound Wellness at Airports — an approach that treats sound as an integral part of passenger well-being rather than background noise.
🌿 Small Sonic Shifts, Big Emotional Impact
Practical, evidence-informed changes can make a measurable difference in passenger comfort and perception.
1. Curated Ambient Playlists
Replacing vocal or high-tempo music in departure zones with instrumental and ambient compositions can reduce cognitive load and help terminals feel more spacious. Music that breathes — gentle, textural, and inclusive — supports focus and calm while maintaining energy flow.
2. Signature Pre-Announcement Chimes
A brief melodic cue before public announcements can soften transitions and increase clarity, as seen in airports like Amsterdam Schiphol and Singapore Changi. It’s a subtle auditory cue that reduces startle response and contributes to a cohesive sonic identity.
3. Calming Live Activations
Short instrumental sets or ambient performances — particularly during peak travel periods — provide a human touch that promotes calm without interrupting operations. These can integrate seamlessly into existing arts and culture programs, showcasing local talent while supporting traveller well-being.
4. Wellness Content for Screens and Socials
Airports can extend support beyond the terminal through digital touchpoints: brief breathing tips, sound-based playlists, or QR codes linking to free resources. Even small interventions reinforce a message of care.
💡 The Bigger Picture: Airports as Modern Sanctuaries
Globally, the “quiet airport” movement has shown that reducing unnecessary announcements can lower noise pollution and improve passenger satisfaction. But sound wellness goes a step further — it’s not only about less sound, but intentional sound: sound that restores focus, steadies the body, and subtly rebalances overstimulated nervous systems.
Research in environmental and auditory design supports this direction. Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory suggests that environments incorporating natural or calming sensory elements can reduce mental fatigue. When applied to airports, this theory invites us to think differently about how sound can create psychological recovery in transit spaces.
💭 Closing Thoughts
Performing at Pearson offered a glimpse of what’s possible when art, wellness, and design intersect. The responses from travelers — curiosity, calm, gratitude — revealed an unmet need for environments that don’t just move people efficiently, but support them emotionally.
Sound is a powerful design tool. When used with intention, it can help transform airports from high stimulation corridors into spaces that promote restoration, readiness, and human connection.
Maybe the future of airports isn’t only about efficiency and technology — but about reintroducing something we’ve long overlooked: the sound of calm.
