Urban soundscapes: a quasi-experiment in landscape architecture

Abstract

Soundscapes are becoming increasingly recognised as significant for sustainable development, since they involve issues of health and quality of life. With this in mind, the present study aims to further our understanding of how urban soundscapes can be altered through design of outdoor space. The study took the form of a quasi-experiment on an urban square, involving sound screens covered with ivy to form a small arbour. Assessment was effected using a mixed-method approach that included measurements of sound pressure levels as well as self-reports from (in total) 205 visitors (198 questionnaires and 9 semi-structured interviews were used for analysis). The findings reveal that the arbour improved the soundscape. This effect was further enhanced when forest sounds were added through loudspeakers, underlining the importance of qualitative considerations. The study additionally highlights potential applications of soundscape design, by examining a number of issues encountered during the project in relation to landscape architecture.

Keywords

Landscape architecture; soundscape; design; noise screen; speaker installation; quasi-experiment; square; urban

Published in

Landscape Research
2016, volume: 41, number: 5, pages: 481-494

SLU Authors

• Cerwén, Gunnar

  • Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Future Urban Sustainable Environment (FUSE) (until Jan 2017)
Built environment

Global goals (SDG)

SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities

UKÄ Subject classification

Architecture
Sociology (excluding Social work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2015.1117062

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/70093