ACOUSTIC COMFORT: Sound Matters In Architectural Design
No matter where we are, sounds affect us physiologically, psychologically, cognitively and behaviorally all the time - even though we’re not conscious of it. And so, it is rightly said that well-designed spaces must sound as good as it looks. Visual and aural perception are complementary systems. It is not a question of one being better than the other; instead, they actually balance each other. Hence, it is no longer viable to ignore the auditory sense when designing any space. Sound is an important part of an architectural design plan. The productivity and wellbeing of residents, visitors, and workers within a building can be affected by how well thought out the acoustics are. For example, in classrooms, libraries, churches, meeting rooms, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, etc. the design has to be such that it is easy to speak and comfortable to listen. Even a simple small room sounds very different when a window is open. In short, sound defines, animates, and enlarges the archi...