AUDITORIUM DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

OPTIMAL VIEWING AND AUDITORY

QUALITIES OF THE VOLUME

PART 1 : GENERIC DATA COLLECTION

ALIZA S. ATHARVA C. ADITYA T. AYESHA D. RIDA S.

Reflection of sound- Bouncing back of sound from a
surface.
Reverberation of sound- Persistence of sound after it
has been stopped as a result of multiple reflections.
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT AUDITORIUM ACOUSTICS

Size of the Materials in the Balconies and

Auditorium Room Orchestra Pits
A common problem in auditoriums If your auditorium includes an
In any room, size has an important
is reverberation, which occurs when orchestra pit and any balconies, these
influence on acoustics. Size includes
sound waves bounce off surfaces features can affect the acoustics in the
the length, width and height of the
and congregate. If you’ve ever room. Balconies can be a helpful way
room. Larger and smaller
attended a lecture where the to include more seating in a room
auditoriums come with their own
speaker’s voice echoed and made it without lengthening the room to the
acoustical advantages.
difficult to understand what they point where attendees in the back
were saying, you’ve experienced the have trouble hearing. The shape and
Shape of the Room issue of excessive reverberation. size of a balcony and the materials it
includes all affect the way sound waves
Like size, the shape of your behave in the room.
auditorium will play an important Doors and Buffer
role in determining the acoustics.
Zones Background Noises
This is why it’s feasible to have a
It’s also important to consider the Even if you have soundproof doors
computer program that can
spaces outside an auditorium and and buffer zones to keep out noise
reconstruct a room’s geometry
how they can affect acoustics within from the outside, that doesn’t mean
based solely on the input of one
the auditorium. If there are other the auditorium will sound completely
sound emission. Auditoriums come
activities, conversations or footsteps silent when empty. All rooms have
in many different shapes, though
outside that are audible inside the ongoing noises from HVAC
you won’t see some shapes as often
auditorium, this will interfere with equipment and even plumbing pipes
because they’ve proven to be poor
the sounds you want the students or running in the background. In most
for acoustics.
audience to hear. situations, we hear these as white
noise, and it’s not much of a bother.
source
AUDITORIUM FORMS

● Improves the hearing

● Brings distant spectators and visual contact
closer to the performer, between spectator and
suited for musician performer.
performances . ● This type is not very well
● Limits space to primary suited for film
speech related activities. presentation.

WIDE FAN
ARENA 3/4

● Offers 360 degree

● Well suited for film, slide visuals so you can bring
presentations. more spectators closer
● Not very conducive to to the performer.
close relationship ● This limits the arena
between performer and physically, allowing very
spectator. little expansion

END STAGE ARENA

BALCONY

● Rear wall and the front of the parapet wall should be treated with absorptive material.
● The depth should not be more than twice the height of an auditorium so sound travels breath the chairs.
● Last acute corner be splayed to reduce the effective volume and should be reflective.

AUDITORIUM GRADIENT

● The ideal angle or reflection of shape of an auditorium

seating is 8 to 15 degrees and 10 to 15 degrees for visual
purposes.
 SHAPE AND SIZE OF AN AUDITORIUM

● Nearest first order images CIRCULAR

FAN SHAPED
and reflections for sound
sources in a trapezoidal
● A circular or elliptical form should ● A fan shape is the most preferred for an
hall.
be avoided as it creates echoes auditorium as it causes good reflections
● Low frequency sound
and sound focus. and utilizes the high frequency range of
spreads on smaller area
and high on larger area. sound

● Rectangular form ● A square form can

effectively covers be used for less
both frequencies seating capacity like
and hence is a lecture halls etc.
preferred shape.

RECTANGULAR SQUARE
AUDITORY VOLUME AND PERFORMANCE

Behavior of sound depending on roof profiles

Behavior of sound depending on shape

 SIGHTLINES

Each room has staggered seat plan

which enables any audience member
to clearly look from over the shoulders
of the row in front.

From floor to top

of head
Everything below the
sightline is obstructed

From floor to eyes

VISUAL PROPORTIONS

Auditorium width Proportions of the traditional auditorium Proportions of the

traditional stage

Perceptive field and proportions

Horizontal and Vertical cone of vision Vertical sightlines
of proscenium arch
CASE STUDY
● PROJECT : Experimental Theatre, University Malaya
● LOCATION : Lingkungan Budi, Kuala Lumpur
● ARCHITECTS: Dato’ Kington Loo- BEP Architects
Direct and Indirect Sound Path - Sound Reflection and Diffusion

Vertical element design

Floor area design
Plan and Section showing the sound shadow region and sound intensity levels

Direct and Indirect Sound Path - Ceiling Design

Direct and Indirect Sound Path - Ceiling Design
REFERENCES
Book References :
● Architectural Acoustics Illustrated- Michael Ermann
● Architectural Acoustics- M. David Egan

Online References :

● https://issuu.com/locktianjiun/docs/etum-bscience_2

THANK YOU!