Subway Rhythm

The 18/13 station is a defining sonic presence at Wiener Platz and a central source of its acoustic character. Its entrances, shafts and openings connect the underground station to the square above, allowing the sounds of arriving and departing trains to permeate the surrounding space. The arriving train creates a crescendo, increasing sound density and masking quieter sounds; as it departs, the sound field recedes and these sounds re-emerge. Two escalators can be heard in the distance, with their rhythmic clattering and a recurring squeak resembling a bird call. During acceleration, the train produces a two-tone signal forming a minor sixth.