• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • RSS Feed
Elevating Sound
  • Soundscape
    • Urban Soundscape
    • Nature
    • Art & Culture
  • Sound Gear
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Household Appliances
    • Ear Protection
    • Acoustic Solutions
    • Books
  • Quiet Cars
  • Sound Design
    • Architecture & Acoustic Design
    • Audio Branding & Marketing
    • Music & Entertainment
    • Industrial Design
    • Soundproofing
  • Health
    • Noise Pollution
    • Tinnitus & Hyperacusis
    • Hard of Hearing & Deaf
    • Sound Treatment
  • Science
    • Psychology
No Result
View All Result
  • Soundscape
    • Urban Soundscape
    • Nature
    • Art & Culture
  • Sound Gear
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Household Appliances
    • Ear Protection
    • Acoustic Solutions
    • Books
  • Quiet Cars
  • Sound Design
    • Architecture & Acoustic Design
    • Audio Branding & Marketing
    • Music & Entertainment
    • Industrial Design
    • Soundproofing
  • Health
    • Noise Pollution
    • Tinnitus & Hyperacusis
    • Hard of Hearing & Deaf
    • Sound Treatment
  • Science
    • Psychology
No Result
View All Result
Elevating Sound
No Result
View All Result
Home Sound Design Architecture & Acoustic Design

Architects Need to Start Designing For the Ears

Magnus Kähler by Magnus Kähler
September 20, 2012 - Updated on July 5, 2013
in Architecture & Acoustic Design, Sound Design, Soundscape
Reading Time: 3 mins read
1
Picture 19
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In an excellent TED Talk, sound guru Julian Treasure poses the rhetorical question: “do architects have ears?”.

As demonstrated by the many examples he conveys in his talk, architects too often don’t use their ears when they design buildings. They over-emphasize the visual experience, while negative consequences due to the resulting poor acoustics with high noise levels are severe on a range of different levels.

Not just our overall quality of life is negatively affected but also our health, our social behavior and productivity. The sound that surrounds us affects us physiologically, psychologically, cognitively and behaviorally; be it consciously or sub-consciously.

Julian Treasure reports on the state of acoustics in some key areas that involve us all.

Healthcare
The New England Journal of Medicine described hospital noise levels as “pandemonium!”. Noise levels in hospitals and healthcare facilities have in fact doubled since 1972. This produces two main problems. Firstly, patients have trouble sleeping due to stressful noise, which negatively affects their recovery. Secondly, noise distractions substantially increase the risk of hospital staff making errors.

Education
Due to poorly designed classroom environments, students may miss 50 percent of what their teachers say. Besides being unable to hear what is being said, the student behavior and study results are negatively impacted by noise.

Also teachers are suffering from the noise they are exposed to. Julian Treasure referred to a German study that found the average noise level in classrooms to be 65 decibels. A level that was found to affect the teachers’ heartrate. 65 dB is seen as the threshold for possible noise-induced risk of heart attack. “Teachers are losing significant life expectancy by teaching in noisy environments like that day after day”, Julian emphasized.

Furthermore, he cited that substandard classrooms can be improved with sound-absorbing materials and other types of acoustic treatment for around GBP 2,500 per classroom.

Cities
According to the World Health Organization, a quarter of Europe’s population experience sleeping problems due to noise in urban areas.
“We have urban planners. Where are the urban sound planners? I don’t know one in the world. The opportunity is there to transform the experience in our cities”, Julian Treasure said in his TED Talk.

Offices
Also in this area, Julian calls for not just office planners, but office sound planners. He exemplifies with a few very common office mishaps. Placing teams who thrive in noise next to teams who need quiet to do their jobs. And companies spending almost all their budget on a big screen in the conference room, resulting in the placement of one tiny microphone in the middle of a table for 30 people. Being able to clearly see each other, but not hearing what is being said obviously lacks value.

Julian Treasure ended his excellent talk by stressing that architects must start paying more attention to the ‘invisible architecture’ of sound.

“It’s about designing, not appearance, but experience, so that we have spaces that sound as good as they look, that are fit for purpose, that improve our quality of life, our health and well being, our social behavior and our productivity. It’s time to start designing for the ears.”

If you are an architect reading this, what’s your take on the state of the invisible architecture of sound? 

Tags: classroom acousticshealthcare acousticsinvisible architectureoffice acousticsurban noise
Share5TweetShareShareSendSend
Magnus Kähler

Magnus Kähler

Swedish founder of Elevating Sound - Your Sound Guide to a Sound World. I have set out to inform and educate about progressive sound thinking, leading sound innovations and issues around noise in society. If you wish to support the initiative and help Elevating Sound increase its impact, please CLICK HERE to become a patron.

Related Posts

The Most Beautiful Sound in the World
Soundscape

The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

July 2, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021
Noise Levels of Urban America – Why the City Soundscape Needs to be Transformed
Noise Pollution

Noise Levels of Urban America – Why the City Soundscape Needs to be Transformed

June 28, 2014 - Updated on April 23, 2020
Nostalgic Sounds: The Most Iconic Video Game Sounds
Art & Culture

Nostalgic Sounds: The Most Iconic Video Game Sounds

June 16, 2014 - Updated on April 22, 2020
Engineering the sound and silence of quality
Acoustic Solutions

Engineering the sound and silence of quality

May 30, 2014 - Updated on April 22, 2020
A Crucial Element Needed For A Truly Quiet Car: Subframes
Quiet Cars

A Crucial Element Needed For A Truly Quiet Car: Subframes

April 24, 2014 - Updated on April 22, 2020
In auto design, fuel economy saves money but silence is golden
Acoustic Solutions

In auto design, fuel economy saves money but silence is golden

March 26, 2014 - Updated on April 22, 2020
Load More

Comments 1

  1. Magnus Kahler says:
    10 years ago

    It would be very interesting to hear stories about architectural projects that were successful in terms of carefully designing the ‘invisible architecture’ of sound and acoustics. Please, share.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Tired of Cabin Noise? Here Is Your Guide to Getting a Quiet Car

Tired of Cabin Noise? Here Is Your Guide to Getting a Quiet Car

132
Lexus LS 600h - The Quietest Passenger Car in the World

The Price of Quiet Driving – A Noise Study of 35 Passenger Cars

102
The Top 30 Quietest Cars – A Cabin Noise Test by AUTO BILD

The Top 30 Quietest Cars – A Cabin Noise Test by AUTO BILD

16
Why Super Fast Hand Dryers Exclude People From Public Spaces

Why Super Fast Hand Dryers Exclude People From Public Spaces

14
Mercedes S-Class quietest car

11 Great Insights About Noise in Cars

May 3, 2021
protect ears and hearing from loud noise using hands

How to protect hearing from loud noise using your hands

May 3, 2021

Elevating Quiet Luxury – Kia Claims to be Quieter than Audi, BMW and Lexus

July 17, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021
The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

July 2, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021

Recent News

Mercedes S-Class quietest car

11 Great Insights About Noise in Cars

May 3, 2021
protect ears and hearing from loud noise using hands

How to protect hearing from loud noise using your hands

May 3, 2021

Elevating Quiet Luxury – Kia Claims to be Quieter than Audi, BMW and Lexus

July 17, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021
The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

July 2, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021

Follow Us

Support Elevating Sound

Become a Patron!

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Browse by Category

  • Acoustic Solutions
  • Architecture & Acoustic Design
  • Art & Culture
  • Books
  • Branding & Marketing
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Ear Protection
  • Family & Kids
  • Hard of Hearing & Deaf
  • Health
  • Household Appliances
  • Industrial Design
  • Music & Entertainment
  • Nature
  • Noise Pollution
  • Psychology
  • Quiet Cars
  • Science
  • Sound Design
  • Sound Gear
  • Sound Treatment
  • Soundproofing
  • Soundscape
  • Tinnitus & Hyperacusis
  • Urban Soundscape

Latest Articles

Mercedes S-Class quietest car

11 Great Insights About Noise in Cars

May 3, 2021
protect ears and hearing from loud noise using hands

How to protect hearing from loud noise using your hands

May 3, 2021

Elevating Quiet Luxury – Kia Claims to be Quieter than Audi, BMW and Lexus

July 17, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021
The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

The Most Beautiful Sound in the World

July 2, 2014 - Updated on March 17, 2021
Noise Levels of Urban America – Why the City Soundscape Needs to be Transformed

Noise Levels of Urban America – Why the City Soundscape Needs to be Transformed

June 28, 2014 - Updated on April 23, 2020
  • Soundscape
  • Sound Gear
  • Quiet Cars
  • Sound Design
  • Health
  • Science

Reimagine © 2020

No Result
View All Result
  • Soundscape
    • Urban Soundscape
    • Nature
    • Art & Culture
  • Sound Gear
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Household Appliances
    • Ear Protection
    • Acoustic Solutions
    • Books
  • Quiet Cars
  • Sound Design
    • Architecture & Acoustic Design
    • Audio Branding & Marketing
    • Music & Entertainment
    • Industrial Design
    • Soundproofing
  • Health
    • Noise Pollution
    • Tinnitus & Hyperacusis
    • Hard of Hearing & Deaf
    • Sound Treatment
  • Science
    • Psychology

Reimagine © 2020