A soundscape approach to exploring design strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public libraries: a case study of the Library of Birmingham
Taking the soundscape approach to a study of the Library of Birmingham, this paper explored acoustic comfort in modern public libraries and measured the quality of the perceived sound environment, focusing on the appropriateness of the spatial organisation to facilitate users’ activities of reading...
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De Gruyter
2016-09-01
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doaj-e361cf7753a045d7a252078534027a6e2020-11-24T23:18:44ZengDe GruyterNoise Mapping2084-879X2016-09-013110.1515/noise-2016-0018noise-2016-0018A soundscape approach to exploring design strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public libraries: a case study of the Library of BirminghamXiao Jieling0Aletta Francesco1Birmingham City University Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandResearch Associate, Ph.D. School of Architecture University of Sheffield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandTaking the soundscape approach to a study of the Library of Birmingham, this paper explored acoustic comfort in modern public libraries and measured the quality of the perceived sound environment, focusing on the appropriateness of the spatial organisation to facilitate users’ activities of reading and writing. The research involved four groups of participants taking soundwalks which provided data at four main floors in the Library, identifying types of sounds, measuring sound pressure levels and evaluating the overall quality and appropriateness of perceived sound environment. A human sound dominated sound environment was found in the studied case. The overall soundscape quality varied among different levels and different functional spaces. However, the results showed that the overall soundscape quality of each floor varied and was not necessarily determined by the overall appropriateness and sound pressure level. The participants in the study were found influenced by their soundscape cognitions of spaces through visual and acoustic perceptions, as well as by their purposes of using the space. From these results, the layout of spaces is suggested as a determining factor of acoustic comfort, and design strategies were discussed to achieve acoustic comfort in modern public libraries.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/noise.2016.3.issue-1/noise-2016-0018/noise-2016-0018.xml?format=INTAcoustic comfortopen-plan spaces modern public library soundscape soundwalk |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Xiao Jieling Aletta Francesco |
spellingShingle |
Xiao Jieling Aletta Francesco A soundscape approach to exploring design strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public libraries: a case study of the Library of Birmingham Noise Mapping Acoustic comfort open-plan spaces modern public library soundscape soundwalk |
author_facet |
Xiao Jieling Aletta Francesco |
author_sort |
Xiao Jieling |
title |
A soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the Library of
Birmingham |
title_short |
A soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the Library of
Birmingham |
title_full |
A soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the Library of
Birmingham |
title_fullStr |
A soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the Library of
Birmingham |
title_full_unstemmed |
A soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the Library of
Birmingham |
title_sort |
soundscape approach to exploring design
strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public
libraries: a case study of the library of
birmingham |
publisher |
De Gruyter |
series |
Noise Mapping |
issn |
2084-879X |
publishDate |
2016-09-01 |
description |
Taking the soundscape approach to a study of
the Library of Birmingham, this paper explored acoustic
comfort in modern public libraries and measured the
quality of the perceived sound environment, focusing on
the appropriateness of the spatial organisation to facilitate
users’ activities of reading and writing. The research
involved four groups of participants taking soundwalks
which provided data at four main floors in the Library,
identifying types of sounds, measuring sound pressure
levels and evaluating the overall quality and appropriateness
of perceived sound environment. A human sound
dominated sound environment was found in the studied
case. The overall soundscape quality varied among
different levels and different functional spaces. However,
the results showed that the overall soundscape quality
of each floor varied and was not necessarily determined
by the overall appropriateness and sound pressure level.
The participants in the study were found influenced by
their soundscape cognitions of spaces through visual and
acoustic perceptions, as well as by their purposes of using
the space. From these results, the layout of spaces is suggested
as a determining factor of acoustic comfort, and design
strategies were discussed to achieve acoustic comfort
in modern public libraries. |
topic |
Acoustic comfort open-plan spaces modern public library soundscape soundwalk |
url |
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/noise.2016.3.issue-1/noise-2016-0018/noise-2016-0018.xml?format=INT |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT xiaojieling asoundscapeapproachtoexploringdesignstrategiesforacousticcomfortinmodernpubliclibrariesacasestudyofthelibraryofbirmingham AT alettafrancesco asoundscapeapproachtoexploringdesignstrategiesforacousticcomfortinmodernpubliclibrariesacasestudyofthelibraryofbirmingham AT xiaojieling soundscapeapproachtoexploringdesignstrategiesforacousticcomfortinmodernpubliclibrariesacasestudyofthelibraryofbirmingham AT alettafrancesco soundscapeapproachtoexploringdesignstrategiesforacousticcomfortinmodernpubliclibrariesacasestudyofthelibraryofbirmingham |
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