Aims: The present study aims to measure the perceptual quality of sound in the case study of “Darvazeh Isfahan” of Shiraz (a public urban space) in two objective and subjective dimensions.
Participants & Methods: The study method in objective analysis is using acoustic simulation software and measurement of five acoustic components and characteristics of sound including sound pressure level (SPL), sound clarity (C), and sound transmission index (STI). Mental dimension analysis was conducted through direct interviews with people in the space during the day, at three intervals in the morning, noon and afternoon. In the interview process, interviewees were asked to respond to the three components of voice information, voice perception, and auditory rating. Simultaneously, the audio content of the study area was recorded using a calibrated voice recorder.
Findings: The results of the analysis in objective dimension indicate the lack of space acoustic transparency in the contextual and background noise measurement components. Although the audio quality of the sound is normal at all three intervals, in some cases the sound intensity level is poor. The direct sound transmission index is in normal condition. On the subjective side, different audio content was heard over three intervals. In the morning, interviewees identified the buzzing, motorcycling, walking and talking. At noon, in addition to the audio content mentioned, the sound of music was also heard. In the afternoon, motorcycles, cars, and people’s conversations were the main audio content of the space.
Conclusion: Through overlaying the objective and subjective analysis, it has identified the subareas of the study space that have difficulty in perceiving the quality of sound. In summary, location-based urban design solutions for improving perceptual sound quality under problem areas are presented. Despite the fact that the present study might be restricted to a urban space in Shiraz, the findings could impart fruitful information for implicating appropriate acoustic vitality guidelines in urban public spaces.