Sound quality: a definition for a sonic architecture
This paper is based on several works that aims to improve sound quality in the architectural project. Architectural practices are mainly dominated by the visual modality. Architects need tools to develop new projects considering sound criteria. Our purpose is basically beyond regulations and aims to manage sound phenomena when they are not necessarily synonymous of noise and annoyances. In other words, we cannot reduce all this complexity and richness of the sound world in a simple problematic that compares noise with silence. This paper will demonstrate that the sound quality deals with the interactions between sensitive phenomena (perceived sounds) and people's activities within the space. Sound quality indicates certain qualities of the relations between sounds, space and social practices. Sound quality is not a fixed criterion of the environment. It embodies differently according to people and time. Consequently, sound quality of a space involves a crossed analysis between space, acoustics and human behaviours in situ. This paper will argue different definitions of the concept of "sound quality" used by acoustic community and defend a position for a sonic architecture.