Comparison between architects and non-architects on perceptions of architectural acoustic environments

Abstract

The perception of the architectural acoustic environment of both architects and non-architects is important. Through interviews with architects and non-architects, theoretical frameworks on acoustic environment perception for the two groups are created in the present study. The entire perception process is summarised into four steps for both groups: attitude towards the acoustic environment of the building, perception of the acoustic environment design, factors influencing the interpretation, and the outcome of the acoustic environment. Some obvious differences between the two groups were observed. Architects tend to focus on controlling the physical parameters of sound; they recognize that the active design of the acoustic environment is difficult and problematic. Non-architects pay more attention to interpreting and experiencing acoustic environments. They tend to create a good acoustic environment using ideal sound and have a positive attitude towards shaping the acoustic environment. Furthermore, compared to non-architects, architects do not pay enough attention to the various influencing factors that affect users’ interpretations of acoustic environments, and the multiple, long-term, and profound effects (e.g. behavioural, emotional, recovery, and health) of the architectural acoustic environment on users are usually ignored. Correlation analysis of these differences and phenomena reveals that the existing issues of the acoustic environment design initially focuses on two aspects: architects’ understanding of the active architectural acoustic environment design is not sufficient to overcome its inherent limitations, and architects’ understanding of public preferences and demands is insufficient. According to the interviews, the future development direction may lie in the combination of acoustic environment design and architecture, support for architects, effective communication and feedback mechanisms, and the transition of architects’ design thinking.