“HOW WILL THAT SOUND?”

Architectural acoustics are an important part of architectural design. Architects should be asking themselves “how will that sound?” throughout the design process. That is why the tool “LISTEN” has potential to positively impact the architectural design process. By allowing architects to analyze and trial listen to environments, built works can be aurally simulated to hear how they would sound in reality.

BUILDING AN AURAL 3D MODEL

The aural simulation project called “LISTEN” is a simulation for the design of aural environments. By using this tool, architects would be able to make 3D models (with selected building materials) to help them listen to their design’s architectural acoustics.

“LISTEN” can simulate multiple aural points from within a 3D aural model. The actual simulation itself is a “mathematical construction of how the given sound picture will look”. As the “LISTEN” project continues to develop, psychoacoustic experts will verify the authenticity of such aural architectural constructs.

DON’T JUST SUBTRACT SOUND, ADD IT

Exterior aural environments often make use of positive sounds – like fountains. The “LISTEN” project team has a theory that designers will be able to create more daring and new architectural designs by not just subtracting and dampening sounds, but by also adding positive sounds to an environment.

Architects need to go beyond the visual approach to architectural design by more fully integrating the audio dimension of architecture. A tool such as the “LISTEN” simulation software is certainly a step in the right direction – making the world of sound a more tangible part of the design process.

© 2008-2011 Sensing Architecture by Maria Lorena Lehman