A significant factor when designing built environment is the acoustic level. Researchers at University of Salford Manchester have developed a project to analysis the effect of indoor sound quality on seniors. The result is that background noise significantly decreases the effectiveness of verbal communication, hence increasing frustration. Noise interference of TV, telephones, HVAC, etc affects quality of life. Here are some ways to reduce noise indoor:
- Incorporate soft materials such as fabric, acoustic panels, carpet, and plants.
Rugs and carpet may come with sound absorbing padding. Cork is also great for sound absorption. Soft materials that are heavier in texture, such as velvet and wool, tend to have higher sound absorption.
- Design with triple plane windows, solid core doors to dampen the sound. Salford Research Study