E-Appraisal of soundscape for public squares in Hong Kong, China

Abstract

There have been activities taking place in public squares in Hong Kong, China over the past two decades changing the soundscape of the venues as well as their neighborhoods. Such activities include group dancing with music, practicing martial arts with or without the use of sticks and swords, playing sound generating instruments and devices, etc. which were not the anticipated activities during the planning and design stage of public squares. Noise level measurements and interviews were conducted to assess the situations in three Hong Kong’s public squares. This paper presents the findings of these case studies and makes recommendations for future planning of public squares with these unanticipated sound generating activities.