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Acoustics for Supportive and Healthy Buildings: Emerging Themes on Indoor Soundscape Research

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Torresin

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
    Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, A. Volta Straße/Via A. Volta 13/A, 39100 Bolzano Bozen, Italy)

  • Francesco Aletta

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London (UCL), Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Francesco Babich

    (Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, A. Volta Straße/Via A. Volta 13/A, 39100 Bolzano Bozen, Italy)

  • Ethan Bourdeau

    (International WELL Building Institute, 220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA)

  • Jack Harvie-Clark

    (Apex Acoustics Ltd., Design Works, William Street, Gateshead NE10 0JP, UK)

  • Jian Kang

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London (UCL), Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Lisa Lavia

    (Noise Abatement Society, 8 Nizells Ave, UK Heriot-Watt University, Hove BN3 1PL, UK
    The Urban Institute, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Antonella Radicchi

    (Institute for Urban and Regional Planning, Technical University Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 40a Sekr. B 4, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Rossano Albatici

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

Abstract

The focus of the building industry and research is shifting from delivering satisfactory spaces to going beyond what is merely acceptable with a wave of new research and practice dedicated to exploring how the built environment can support task performance and enhance people’s health and well-being. The present study addresses the role of acoustics in this paradigm shift. Indoor soundscape research has recently emerged as an approach that brings a perceptual perspective on building and room acoustics in order to shape built environments that “sound good” according to building occupants’ preference and needs. This paper establishes an initial discussion over some of the open questions in this field of research that is still in an embryonic stage. A thematic analysis of structured interviews with a panel of experts offered a range of perspectives on the characterization, management, and design of indoor soundscapes and health-related outcomes. The discussion pointed out the importance of both perceptual and multisensory research and integrated participatory design practices to enable a holistic view regarding the complex building–user interrelations and the design of just cities. Soundscape methodologies tailored to the peculiarities of indoor soundscapes can help to measure and predict the human perceptual response to the acoustic stimuli in context, thus reducing the risk of mismatches between expected and real building experiences. This perceptual perspective is expected to widen the scientific evidence for the negative and positive impacts of the acoustic environment on human health, well-being, and quality of life. This will support prioritizing the role of acoustics in building design and challenge many current design practices that are based on a noise control approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Torresin & Francesco Aletta & Francesco Babich & Ethan Bourdeau & Jack Harvie-Clark & Jian Kang & Lisa Lavia & Antonella Radicchi & Rossano Albatici, 2020. "Acoustics for Supportive and Healthy Buildings: Emerging Themes on Indoor Soundscape Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6054-:d:390868
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesco Aletta & Jieling Xiao, 2018. "What are the Current Priorities and Challenges for (Urban) Soundscape Research?," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Simone Torresin & Rossano Albatici & Francesco Aletta & Francesco Babich & Jian Kang, 2019. "Assessment Methods and Factors Determining Positive Indoor Soundscapes in Residential Buildings: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Julii S. Brainard & Andrew P. Jones & Ian J. Bateman, 2006. "Exposure to Environmental Urban Noise Pollution in Birmingham, UK," Chapters, in: Ysé Serret & Nick Johnstone (ed.), The Distributional Effects of Environmental Policy, chapter 6, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jieling Xiao & Francesco Aletta & Islah Ali-Maclachlan, 2022. "On the Opportunities of the Soundscape Approach to Revitalise Acoustics Training in Undergraduate Architectural Courses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Antonio Laurìa & Simone Secchi & Luigi Vessella, 2020. "Acoustic Comfort as a Salutogenic Resource in Learning Environments—A Proposal for the Design of a System to Improve the Acoustic Quality of Classrooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-25, November.
    3. Angel M. Dzhambov & Peter Lercher & Drozdstoy Stoyanov & Nadezhda Petrova & Stoyan Novakov & Donka D. Dimitrova, 2021. "University Students’ Self-Rated Health in Relation to Perceived Acoustic Environment during the COVID-19 Home Quarantine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Neil Spencer Bruce, 2025. "Soundtalking: Extending Soundscape Practice Through Long-Term Participant-Led Sound Activities in the Dee Estuary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Krzysztof Nering & Alicja Kowalska-Koczwara & Krzysztof Stypuła, 2020. "Annoyance Based Vibro-Acoustic Comfort Evaluation of as Summation of Stimuli Annoyance in the Context of Human Exposure to Noise and Vibration in Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Marina Eirini Stamatiadou & Iordanis Thoidis & Nikolaos Vryzas & Lazaros Vrysis & Charalampos Dimoulas, 2021. "Semantic Crowdsourcing of Soundscapes Heritage: A Mojo Model for Data-Driven Storytelling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, March.

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