Healing soundscape: hospital acoustics 2.0
Regular paper
Peutz bv
Wednesday 3 june, 2015, 14:00 - 14:20
0.6 Madrid (49)
Abstract:
In environmental noise control a more sophisticated approach has emerged in
recent years: soundscape regards the complex sound environment, embracing
positive sounds as well as annoyance. This approach is very well suited for
use indoors too, for example in hospitals. Many sounds are annoying,
disturbing, disquieting; literature abounds with alarming figures of high
sound levels. But other sounds are pleasant, reassuring, relaxing, even
necessary, like exchange of information between patients and staff. It is
proposed not to focus too much on the physical -and psycho-acoustical-
properties of the mix of audible sounds as such (spectrum, levels, time
history, roughness, sharpness), but to take the information content of the
composite sounds into consideration as well, and in particular their meaning
to people, and their impact on them. This approach combines the properties of
the building -sound production of HVAC, sound reduction of partitions, sound
absorption of building elements- and the specific sound sources of the users,
staff, visitors and patients. Many items of the total ‘choir’ of sound sources
can be manipulated to some extent, thus enabling designers to enhance positive
impacts and to reduce unwanted sounds. This will be illustrated for different
types of hospital rooms.