Title of the research: Understanding Sound Qualities in Architecture: A Comparative Analysis of Lived Experiences in Public Libraries Through the Lens of Psychoacoustic Parameters
under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Pierre Chupin and Dr. Caroline Traube
Abstract: Beyond the acoustic considerations of architecture, listening and its psychoacoustic dimension play a fundamental role in the lived experience of built environments. The sensory and perceptual issues addressed by psychoacoustics open the door to a qualitative—rather than merely quantitative—consideration of sound as a parameter in architecture. This relationship between architecture and psychoacoustics, however, has its roots in music. We can thus trace a history of this connection, which today invites us to transfer knowledge and methods between psychoacoustics and architecture.
Based on a corpus of Canadian public libraries, we will propose a qualitative assessment of the sound experience they offer. We hypothesize that a positive experience contributes to their accessibility. This will lead to a discussion of the mental images that describe expectations regarding the sonic identity of these spaces. The example of libraries presupposes the idea of a quiet environment conducive to concentration—that is, one free of noise. However, while certain types of sounds contribute to the “pleasantness” of these spaces and to our understanding of them, soundproofing tends to diminish the user experience, even to the point of creating forms of exclusion.