A good sound in the right place: Exploring the effects of auditory-visual combinations on aesthetic preference

Abstract

Although research on the effect of soundscape on preference has been growing rapidly in recent years, a detailed understanding of the aesthetic quality of interactions between key characteristics of the visual landscape and soundscape is poorly known. In order to explore the effects of auditory-visual combinations on aesthetic preference we conducted an experiment involving eight videos of urban green spaces in Xuzhou, eastern China were merged with five natural sounds (birdsongs of single and multiple species, wind sounds, a frog croak and running water sounds). The aesthetic preferences of these combined sounds and videos, as well as silent videos were evaluated by 379 college students using a seven-point Likert scale. The results suggested that: (1) generally speaking, birdsongs of a single or multiple species, wind sounds and running water sounds enhanced aesthetic enjoyment, while a frog croak decreased it; (2) introducing birdsongs and wind sounds to a place with diverse types of vegetation, and introducing running water sounds to a landscape possessing undulating topography and few aquatic plants were the effective ways to increase the effect of soundscape on aesthetic quality; (3) in general, if the visual association of a soundscape was congruent with the existing visual landscape, the combination was more likely to improving the aesthetic experience. These results provide valuable guidance and reference for urban planners, managers and landscape architects.