LECTURE 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF ARCHITECTURAL
ACOUSTICS
ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS
• Fundamentals of Architectural Acoustics
• Sound Theory
• Human Response to Sound
• Sound Sources
• Definition of Acoustic
Terms & Units
ACOUSTIC SYSTEM- Exact science and practical art concerned
with the production, control, transmission, reception, and WALLACE CLEMENT SABINE 1886-
effects of sound in an enclosed space. 1919
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ARCHITECTURE- adequately plan a Founder of the Science of
space to reinforce needed sound, to eliminate unwanted Architectural Acoustics
sound, and to prevent the transmission of unwanted sound. Boston Symphony Hall
(1900) - first structure to
be designed with the
Sabine's Law
Published Collected Papers on Acoustics (1922
VILHELM LASSEN JORDAN 1909-1982
Redesign of Sydney Opera
Theater
Consultant on hundreds of
projects throughout the
world
Acoustical Design of Concert Halls and Theaters
(1980)
BRANCHES OF ACOUSTICS
1. ENGINEERING ACOUSTICS- Technology of sound
production and recording, sound motion pictures,
radio, and television.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICS- Deals with the
ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS effects of environment upon audible sound
3. UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS- Deals specifically with all
GEORGE S. SALVAN (1999)
sound in the sea.
Technology of designing spaces, structures and mechanical 4. PSYCHOACOUSTICS- Deals with reaction of human
systems to meet hearing needs. beings to audible sound.
• Wanted sound can be heard properly
• Unwanted sound can be attenuated so it doesn't cause SOUND THEORY
annoyance
SOUND
A series of pressure variation in an elastic medium.
Defined by architects as audible signal
ELEMENTS OF ACOUSTICS Sound travels in space by a phenomenon called wave motion.
Source- Human speech, mechanical equipments, etc. Wave motion in air is similar to the motion of a ripple
produced by dropping a pebble in a water pond.
Path- air, earth, building materials, water, etc.
TYPES OF SOUND
Receiver- humans, animals, sensitive medical equipments
Speech- comprises of phonemes which are individual
ACOUSTICS
ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS
• Fundamentals of Architectural Acoustics
• Sound Theory
• Human Response to Sound
• Sound Sources
• Definition of Acoustic
Terms & Units
ACOUSTIC SYSTEM- Exact science and practical art concerned
with the production, control, transmission, reception, and WALLACE CLEMENT SABINE 1886-
effects of sound in an enclosed space. 1919
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ARCHITECTURE- adequately plan a Founder of the Science of
space to reinforce needed sound, to eliminate unwanted Architectural Acoustics
sound, and to prevent the transmission of unwanted sound. Boston Symphony Hall
(1900) - first structure to
be designed with the
Sabine's Law
Published Collected Papers on Acoustics (1922
VILHELM LASSEN JORDAN 1909-1982
Redesign of Sydney Opera
Theater
Consultant on hundreds of
projects throughout the
world
Acoustical Design of Concert Halls and Theaters
(1980)
BRANCHES OF ACOUSTICS
1. ENGINEERING ACOUSTICS- Technology of sound
production and recording, sound motion pictures,
radio, and television.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICS- Deals with the
ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS effects of environment upon audible sound
3. UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS- Deals specifically with all
GEORGE S. SALVAN (1999)
sound in the sea.
Technology of designing spaces, structures and mechanical 4. PSYCHOACOUSTICS- Deals with reaction of human
systems to meet hearing needs. beings to audible sound.
• Wanted sound can be heard properly
• Unwanted sound can be attenuated so it doesn't cause SOUND THEORY
annoyance
SOUND
A series of pressure variation in an elastic medium.
Defined by architects as audible signal
ELEMENTS OF ACOUSTICS Sound travels in space by a phenomenon called wave motion.
Source- Human speech, mechanical equipments, etc. Wave motion in air is similar to the motion of a ripple
produced by dropping a pebble in a water pond.
Path- air, earth, building materials, water, etc.
TYPES OF SOUND
Receiver- humans, animals, sensitive medical equipments
Speech- comprises of phonemes which are individual
