Acoustics
are invisible and yet vital elements architects and designers need to consider
when building. Think of all the ways sound affects your work-life alone.
Picture your desk set up in an old gymnasium. It would be hard to focus on
anything except for the squeak of your coworkers’ shoes, the echoes of clacking
keyboards, or the chewing sounds from the cubicle next to yours. We rarely talk
about how architecture sounds, although we understand all spaces have unique
and distinctive noises. Libraries are considered quiet, while stadiums are
known for being loud. Now picture the materials they’re made out of, the height
of the ceilings, and the shape of the buildings.
There are techniques for reducing environmental intrusion noises or heightening acoustical components to carry sound better. All building materials have acoustic properties: they can absorb, reflect, or transmit sounds that reach them. Your architect and designer must know the ins and outs of acoustics before they design your space.