NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

HOW SOUND AFFECTED ME?

BUILDING UTILITIES 3: ACOUSTICS AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS

Submitted by: Submitted to:

ANCHETA, JAESON AR. ALPHER E. DE VERA
ARC191

APRIL 2022
 Sounds affect our lives in a way that it is naturally part of our daily lives. It may affect
us in positive or negative ways. Sounds creates consciousness in our body, alters our bodies’
reaction or motion, and it even changes our mood and emotional state. Moreover, sounds
influence our productivity and focus on our work. However, it can also trigger our stress and
sometimes it can be the reason for us to behave or act negatively. In more specific terms, sounds
affect us physiologically, psychologically, cognitively, and behaviourally.

As per my personal experiences, sounds affect me physiologically when there’s an

unexpected loud noise specifically, a very loud music blasting from the speaker, an explosion
of firecrackers, the sound of the cats running on our roof and even when I’m at my focused
state on a quiet place and suddenly someone will speak and talk to me. Those instances enable
me to create sudden and unusual body motion. But it also allows me to be alert and aware of
my surroundings. Next is sounds affect my psychological state. For instance, when I’m listening
to my favorite music, my mood lightens up and it lets me enjoy and vibe to the beat. The
calming sound of the waves in the ocean along with the rustling of leaves in the trees allows
me to meditate and let my stress out as well. Thirdly, sounds affect me cognitively. I can’t find
myself productive when I’m in a very loud environment. In the classroom, when I’m reviewing
for the upcoming exam and everyone is making an annoying noise, I can’t focus on what I am
reviewing. Furthermore, as we are going through this online class and staying at home, when
my mother angrily talks out loud, sometimes I cannot understand what my professor is
discussing because I’m out of my focus. Lastly, sounds affect me behaviourally. For example,
when my cousins are very noisy playing inside our house or someone is playing loud music, I
tend to get annoyed and upset especially when I am doing my schoolworks.

Indeed, sounds play an important role in our lives. It helps us to communicate with
others. Without a sound, we would not be able to listen to our favorite music or even watch
movies. What we need is how we will design our environment that will fit to our satisfaction.
From a designer’s point of view, sound is one of the important aspects of our project to be
considered. Every project should have a good acoustic design. We should learn to locate where
the noises are coming from in order for us to strategize how we can control the loudness levels
throughout the space. We can use soundproofing materials such as acoustic boards to serve as
a noise barrier. As well as good landscaping will reduce the noise from the outside. A well-
executed planning will allow us to have the comfortability that we need in a certain space.