Valencia trials terraces that warn customers if they're being noisy

Valencia, a Spanish city famed for its loud Fallas celebrations and buzzing bar scene, is testing whether smart terraces with sound monitors will help to keep the noise down and allow neighbours to get a good night's sleep.

Valencia City Council has launched a pilot project to install new, smart terraces in the hip Ruzafa neighbourhood, popular for its bars, restaurants and nightlife.

These terrazas are designed to absorb sound and alert customers when a certain decibel level is exceeded, as well as acting as a kind of climate refuge.

Small table lamps turn red if the permitted noise level is exceeded, warning people to keep it down.

Furthermore, sound-absorbing discs have been installed above the terraces, made from a material that absorbs sound waves.

In terms of protection from the sun, umbrellas which are made of a special fabric that can reduce temperatures are also being used.

These so-called ECOterraces have been implemented in two sections of Calle del Cura Femenía, one of the busiest streets in the area.

The objective is to develop a bar or restaurant terrace model that can be extended to other parts of Valencia.

Valencia's Councillor for Climate Improvement Carlos Mundina said that the pilot project "aims to ensure Valencia has an urban space that is respectful of the environment and people."

For his part, the president of the Association for Responsible Hospitality in Russafa (Al Balansí) Amor López says he hopes “the new model for implementing measures will ensure the sustainability of the city's tourism industry”.

But Ruzafa's residents aren't that convinced.

The Russafa Descansa association called the measure "political posturing" and said that just three days after installation, several soundproof panels have already come down.

They also complained that the project is focused on just one of the busiest streets, but noise problems affect more than 20 streets of them in the area with around 300 entertainment and dining venues.

The Ruzafa neighbourhood has been declared an Acoustically Saturated Zone, which already has rules on reducing opening hours and limits new terrace licenses, but residents have said that it does not include any measures to limit the times nightclubs and pubs can operate.

Many of these establishments have soundproofing, but the problem is that people often hang out on the streets outside them.

It's not the first time that Valencian authorities 'wage war' on noise. This is despite the fact that for a few days every year its Mascletà firecrackers tradition (part of Las Fallas festival) sees decibel levels reach highs of 120db that represent a health hazard for babies and animals in particular.

In 2023, they passed an anti-noise bylaw which punishes everything from playing loud music at the beach, to shouting in the street or chiming church bells at the wrong time.

In 2021, Spain was ranked as the noisiest country on the planet together with Japan. The two countries have been switching top spot over the past decade, fighting over who can be the most ear-splitting for its residents.

Around nine million people in Spain are exposed to noise levels above 65 decibels, the recommended threshold by the WHO.

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