Influence of automated façades on the soundscape outside of buildings

As automation is progressively more present in buildings, it is important to understand its impact on people’s experience of urban environments. This case study investigated how one automated shading system with motorized venetian blinds affects sound perception of the acoustic environment in the immediate outdoor surroundings of a university campus building in Detmold, Germany. Procedures of ISO 12913 series for soundscape research were followed to conduct acoustic measurements and derive psychoacoustic indicators. Additionally, soundwalks involving 41 participants and a laboratory study using immersive virtual reality (VR) with 34 participants were conducted to assess how individuals perceive the acoustic environment. The results show that the operation of automated blinds increases sound levels above reference thresholds at short distances, and has a consistent effect on the soundscape, shifting it from pleasant and calm to annoying and chaotic. These trends are notable in both on-site and laboratory data. Additionally, when participants evaluated the soundscape in direct visual connection with the operating façade shading system, they perceived the sounds to be less chaotic than when they were not seeing the façade. These findings highlight that automated buildings and façades are active sound sources capable of influencing environmental quality through acoustic and non-acoustic effects; therefore, their influence on the soundscape should be considered within performance assessments, smart/automation policy, and sustainability frameworks.