The Science of Soundscapes: An Unexplored Aspect of Interior Design
When designing residential and commercial spaces, most interior designers focus intensely on visual elements – colors, textures, lighting, furnishings, layout, and more. But sound is just as critical in shaping how inhabitants experience a space. The emerging field of soundscape science reveals just how profoundly audio environments impact mood, performance, and wellbeing.
Functional Impact
It may surprise design professionals just how profoundly soundscapes impact functional behaviors like concentration, creativity, and pro-sociality. We have shown that noisy environments increase errors, reactive thinking, and impulsiveness while dampening helpfulness and empathy. Quiet settings enhance mental clarity.
Interestingly, the presence of natural sounds accelerates cognitive pe...