Determinants of soundscape quality of communal open space in Hong Kong

Abstract

Soundscape quality of communal open space (COS) in residential housing estates has been less thoroughly investigated. This paper aims to reveal the intricate relationships among physical sound, visual and thermal environments and their respective human perceptions, and soundscape quality, as well as their relative influences. To this end, a path model was formulated with aid of 1749 face-to-face field interview responses collected via questionnaire surveys together with physical measurements at the COS of nine residential housing estates in Hong Kong. The model findings suggested that pleasantness and landscape visual quality, as well as thermal acceptability were the primary drivers for soundscape quality of COS. The size of effects of thermal perceptions on soundscape quality was found comparable to those of aural and visual perceptions. In turn, pleasantness was more influenced by perception of dominant vehicle sound, human sound and birdsong than physical sound properties and psychoacoustics factors. Visual quality of landscape also played an important role on soundscape assessments via visibility of greenery and sky. Besides, thermal acceptability was found to directly influence soundscape assessments instead of thermal comfort or sensation. Above all, our findings provide valuable insights for residential housing estate designers in formulating strategies that can effectively improve soundscape quality in COS in compact city environments.