Acoustics In Architectural Design

It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that the physicist Wallace Clement Sabine developed his theory of reverberation, which has remained fundamental to architectural acoustics to this day, and has subsequently been applied to many building types, especially those for the performing arts. Yet the practice of architectural acoustics goes back much further with the impressive designs of the Greeks proving highly influential. This comprehensive book explores the development of acoustics in architectural design from the theatres of Classical Greece, through the early development of opera houses, concert halls and theatres, to the research work of Sabine and his successors and its influence on twentieth- and twenty-first-century buildings. Topics covered include: the fundamentals of acoustics; the influential legacy of the Greeks and Romans; the evolving design of opera houses, theatres and concert halls and, finally, the acoustics of schools, music schools and recital halls.

The application of good acoustic design can seem daunting to designers when trying to understand the often-complex physics of sound control. The ever-increasing number of standards and performance criteria that can be requested on new developments further complicates acoustics for architects. Architectural Acoustics, part of the PocketArchitecture series, provides the fundamental theory and understanding of acoustics and applications of effective detailing for specific building types and conditions in an accessible and clear technical guide. The book provides: a compact and understandable introduction to the fundamentals of building and architectural acoustics definitions of suitable acoustic performance criteria for a wide range of common buildings and room types guidance on specification and detailing of the most suitable construction types in North America and the UK. This book is both, a handy rule of thumb on acoustics for anyone involved in the design or construction of buildings, as well as an essential addition to any architect’s reference library.

Architectural Acoustics, Second Edition presents a thorough technical overview of the discipline, from basic concepts to specific design advice. Beginning with a brief history, it reviews the fundamentals of acoustics, human perception and reaction to sound, acoustic noise measurements, noise metrics, and environmental noise characterization. In-depth treatment is given to the theoretical principles and practical applications of wave acoustics, sound transmission, vibration and vibration isolation, and noise transmission in floors and mechanical systems. Chapters on specific design problems demonstrate how to apply the theory, including treatment of multifamily dwellings, office buildings, rooms for speech, rooms for music, multipurpose rooms, auditoriums, sanctuaries, studios, listening rooms, and the design of sound reinforcement systems. Detailed figures illustrate the practical applications of acoustic principles, showing how to implement design ideas in actual structures. This compendium of theoretical and practical design information brings the relevant concepts, equations, techniques, and specific design problems together in one place, including both fundamentals and more advanced material. Practicing engineers will find it an invaluable reference for their daily work, while advanced students will appreciate its rigorous treatment of the basic building blocks of acoustical theory. Considered the most complete resource in the field – includes basic fundamental relations, derived from first principles, and examples needed to solve real engineering problems. Provides a well-organized text for students first approaching the subject as well as a reliable reference for experienced practitioners looking to refresh their technical knowledge base. New content for developing professionals includes case studies and coverage of specific focus areas such as audio visual design, theaters, and concert halls.

Unite the science of sound and the principles of design toenhance any space Architectural Acoustics Illustrated translates thequantitative and qualitative content of acoustics into the graphiclanguage of architecture. This highly-visual guide includes over350 illustrations that outline the physics of sound and the bestdesign practices for limiting or mitigating noise in buildings byusing the latest in materials and techniques. Each chapter includesa summary checklist of design guidelines to help prevent mistakesand oversights, and the Instructor's website offers videoanimations demonstrating acoustical concepts. Designed as a "firstlook" at the interaction of sound and space, the book explains theprinciples of architectural acoustics and their practicalapplications, providing a comprehensive guide for designing withacoustics in mind. Architectural acoustics is more than just concert halls –it may determine building placement, division of interior space,exterior construction, and even siting. When addressed early in thedesign process, the resulting space can be free of unwanted soundand promote good hearing; if left unaddressed, the problems withthe space can lead to lawsuits and costly post-constructionremediation. Architectural Acoustics Illustrated helpsdesigners solve most acoustical problems in advance, by enablingreaders to: Understand the physical science underlying the behavior ofsound Consider the interactions of sound and space in the initialdesign approach Mitigate building sounds such as those produced by HVAC andplumbing with early design planning Design spaces for listening, and incorporate acoustics bestpractices into every plan The highly visual format of the book helps readers grasp complexconcepts quickly, and thorough discussion of each concept'sreal-world application ties the science directly into the designprocess. All design professionals need to have a fundamentalunderstanding of acoustics, and Architectural AcousticsIllustrated is a comprehensive, practical guide in aneasy-to-read format.

Popular music plays a substantial role in most people’s life. The demand and financial revenue of Rock and Pop concerts is large and still increasing with the decreased revenue on recorded music. Based on the first ever scientific investigations on recommendable acoustics for amplified music conducted by the author, this book sets forward precise guidelines for acoustical engineers to optimize the acoustics in existing or future halls for amplified music. Gives precise guidelines on how to design the acoustics in venues that present amplified music Debates essential construction details, including placement of sound system and use of possible building materials, in the architectural design of new venues or the renovation of old ones Portrays 75 well-known European Rock & Pop venues, their architecture and acoustic properties. 20 venues were rated for their acoustics by music professionals leading to an easy-to-use assessment methodology ”Acoustics are important within pop and rock venues to ensure a great experience for audiences and performers. This book fills an important gap of knowledge on the acoustics of venues. It will be of value to sound engineers as well as building owners and operators and building design professionals”. Rob Harris, Arup Acoustics ”With this book, many future amplified music concerts will sound better, for the joy of audiences and musicians alike. This enormous work demonstrates a rare degree of passion and insight, from the hand of the key researcher in the field”. Dr. Per V. Brüel

This book is an authoritative but uniquely accessible and highly illustrated guide to good acoustic design practice for architects, interior designers and acoustic professionals. It provides a user-friendly introduction to architectural acoustics and acoustics technology where the market is crowded with dense and technical texts. It will go through each typology in turn explaining the key acoustic concepts with highly illustrated and international case studies that demonstrate cutting-edge practice and technology, innovative design techniques and common challenges and solutions.

The application of good acoustic design can seem daunting to designers when trying to understand the often-complex physics of sound control. The ever-increasing number of standards and performance criteria that can be requested on new developments further complicates acoustics for architects. Architectural Acoustics, part of the PocketArchitecture series, provides the fundamental theory and understanding of acoustics and applications of effective detailing for specific building types and conditions in an accessible and clear technical guide. The book provides: a compact and understandable introduction to the fundamentals of building and architectural acoustics definitions of suitable acoustic performance criteria for a wide range of common buildings and room types guidance on specification and detailing of the most suitable construction types in North America and the UK. This book is both, a handy rule of thumb on acoustics for anyone involved in the design or construction of buildings, as well as an essential addition to any architect’s reference library.

Comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of principles, materials, and technologies Architectural Acoustics provides the vital information that architects, engineers, and all concerned with the built environment need to control and direct wanted or unwanted sounds within and around buildings. A team of internationally recognized experts presents the very latest information on acoustical materials, technologies, design criteria, and methods for a wide variety of applications, including airports and other transportation facilities; theaters, churches, and concert halls; classrooms, lecture halls, and libraries; music practice rooms and recording studios; sports venues; and all types of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. This comprehensive reference is one of the few books of its kind to include richly detailed case studies that demonstrate real-world applications of acoustic principles, materials, and methods. Nearly two hundred photos and illustrations further elucidate specific principles, applications, and techniques. Topics covered include: * Basic principles of architectural acoustics * Acoustical materials and methods * Building noise control applications