Is the sound environment relevant for how people use common spaces?

Abstract

Rapid and intrusive spatial adjustments in common spaces are increasingly questioned by the awareness of citizens demanding higher quality standards. This study aims to understand the use of common space by identifying how the sound environment affects the functions of space and the interaction with other environmental and spatial variables. Is there a certain sound environment required or that should be avoided when designing a space for a specific activity? In situ evaluations with regular users were collected in nine common spaces in Gothenburg, Sweden, conducting sound recordings and questionnaires. Site selection responded to the purpose of the analysed places, the noise level (LAeq) of the city road traffic noise map, and the number of activities suggested by the city sociotope maps. The analyses revealed that certain activities could be identified from LAeq values. Discriminant functions with respect to sound levels primarily identified a tranquil/restorative vibrant dimension, where the highest noise levels tend to be at the most vibrant end. Other results showed that a considerable variability of overall and visual quality judgements came from the variability in sites. These quality assessments were highly correlated, allowing both to be analysed as a single attribute. The variability in sound quality was much lower. Notable is the difference between recorded and perceived loudness. In addition, poor sound quality judgement does not seem to correlate with the perception of mechanical sources as the main source of noise.

Effects of contexts in urban residential areas on the pleasantness and appropriateness of natural sounds

“…It has been established that primary functions and socio-recreational activities in a given space play a key role in soundscape assessment regarding the perceived appropriateness of the sound environment [27]. To describe the people-place-activity context, some researchers have adopted the concept of a 'sociotope', defined as "the commonly perceived direct use values of a place by a specific culture or group" [28,29], to explore the people-place-activity interaction in soundscapes [30][31][32]. These studies demonstrated significant relationships between the appropriateness of soundscapes and the socio-recreational activities in various urban spaces.…”

On the relationship between land use and sound sources in the urban environment

“…Several authors, such as Raimbault and Dubois (2005), Nielbo, Steele, and Guastavino (2013), Bild et al (2018), Estévez-Mauriz, Forssén, and Dohmen (2018), and Romanowska (2018), have highlighted the significance of the urban contextincluding the function of a place and the corresponding activitiesto soundscape. Activities influence the urban form and mobility patterns (Burton, Jenks, and Williams 2000), and consequently the distribution of sound sources within the city, which would affect the soundscape.…”

An Investigation of Soundscape Factors Influencing Perceptions of Square Dancing in Urban Streets: A Case Study in a County Level City in China

“…The sensation, interpretations and responses to the perceived acoustic environment play a central role in the concept. In recent studies of soundscapes in outdoor public spaces, activities have been considered as a key role in creating urban soundscapes whilst contextualizing the way people evaluated the perceived sound environment [ 8 , 13 , 14 ]. This dual effect has drawn attention to look at the activity-soundscape relations in spaces [ 15 ].…”