Soundscape assessment in historical urban spaces using sound walk method and Kano model

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sound is one of the most important tools for recognizing urban spaces. Zandieh area of Shiraz as one of the historic context shaped during the ages hase been chosen in order to obtain a proper response to the individual's perception of urban historic spaces soundscape. The main object of this manuscript achieves a sufficient way in order to organize urban soundscape by utilizing assessments and perception data perceived by users. METHODS: The narrative interview method (a sample group of 129 users who were active in space for more than 30 minutes) and behavior observation which are subsets of the sound walking technique have been used; Also, the data which were collected in the previous stage, based on the components of the Kano model, were categorized into three categories of basic, performance and attractiveness. FINDING: With regard to the findings and assessments in the case study, it can be inferred that 69% of the urban space's users perceive noises such as underpass fans' noise more than any others; Consequently, this has led to the lack of acceptance by space users; Also, it was cleared by interviewing listeners in urban space that 59% of the interviewees have preferred natural Sounds to human and 76% preferred tranquility at the urban environment While only 11% of the users preferred the development of a vibrant space. CONCLUSION: Base on that strategies such as planting vegetation in order to prevent the street noise, allocating water bodies in order to have water sound with proper shading and a Desirable view of historical spaces to increase the sense of richness have been presented. Also, in order to achieve an efficient method to improve the soundscapes of urban environments, basic strategies, performance strategies and at last strategies for increasing the attractiveness of urban environments' soundscape should be implemented.