Il paesaggio sonoro nella progettazione sostenibile dell’ambiente costruito = Soundscape in the sustainable design of the built environment

The acoustic quality of living and working environments can be a key determinant of the health, well-being and quality of life of building occupants. The soundscape framework allows a comprehensive characterisation of people’s acoustic perception in a specific context, thus guiding the design of built environments that are supportive rather than simply non-disruptive. It is now widely recognised that the dynamic between people’s health and well-being and the environment is complex and that the underlying factors are interconnected. An example is provided by soundscape, ventilation and environmental emissions. The management of the indoor soundscape is strongly interrelated with that of the outdoor, urban soundscape, with building envelopes and ventilation openings as the main interface. The consideration of soundscape aspects in urban planning and building design will be increasingly urgent in light of global warming, as a positive urban soundscape will be key to the successful implementation of passive cooling strategies in buildings, while being beneficial for people’s well-being. Building on recent indoor soundscape studies, this contribution will introduce the role of supportive soundscapes as key elements to shape resilient cities capable of addressing the major global challenges posed by global warming.