Four days in a cabin in the middle of the woods with no phones or noise. Three couples took on the challenge as part of a Swedish campaign to promote tranquility in Scandinavia and raise awareness of the dangers of noise pollution. The project was born out of the recognition that for many tourists, Sweden’s attraction lies in its peace.
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We chose to travel to Sweden because of the “relaxation, tranquility, connection and experience in nature,” explains Josefine Nordgren, one of the organizers of the “Silent Cabin” project by Visit Skåne (Visit Scandinavia), which promotes tourism in southern Sweden. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), noise is the second most harmful environmental factor for European health after air pollution.
This fall, Visit Skane invited three couples to a small cabin in the woods for four days, free of charge, as long as their conversations didn’t exceed 45 decibels. A normal conversation level is about 60 decibels. A noise meter was installed above the closet to ensure everyone complied with the rules. Couples violating the restrictions may be asked to leave.
“Thanks to this device, we started taking this seriously,” Lise Holm, a 26-year-old German woman who was in the cabin with her sister Johanna, told AFP. “I’m a different person now.”
For four days, the sisters communicated using whispers and gestures. They spent their time walking, meditating, painting, and building fires.
“In everyday life, where everything is noisy and moves so fast, we hear sounds that we don’t notice,” Joanna said.
For Josephine Norgren, requesting silence from guests preserves the tranquility of the place and, in turn, improves the health of visitors.
“Staying silent, calm, and speaking below 45 decibels is good for your body and mind,” he says.
“My energy level has changed a lot,” she says. “I feel a deep sense of happiness and intense energy. A feeling that I can change the world.”
According to the European Environment Agency, one in five people in the European Union is exposed to noise levels that are harmful to their health. Living in areas with transportation noise increases the risk of developing health problems such as mental illness and cardiovascular disease. And while a short holiday to the countryside may seem like an attractive solution, it won’t solve the broader problems caused by noise pollution.
“This may be an individual solution, but it is not appropriate as a collective solution,” said Eulalia Peris, an expert at the European Environment Agency.
According to experts, “Noise problems cannot be solved with a single solution.” Perris suggests reducing noise at the source by taking measures such as limiting speeds, limiting engine noise, creating buffer zones and encouraging active transportation such as walking and cycling.
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