Sound is an important part of our daily lives without which our experience is incomplete. We pay a lot of attention to the visually perceived characteristics of a space, but what about the experience of hearing within the same space? This presentation talks about the effect sound can have on the design and the overall experience. The audio experience of any space can overpower the visual experience both ways.

Multiple factors define the audible experience of a space. Namely, the material and its properties, the curvature of the surface which decides the angle and direction of reflection, the position of the source from the reflecting surfaces, the form of the space where the sound is experienced and finally the quality of sound produced.
The conscious consideration of acoustics of a space is extremely important while designing any structure; so that undesirable effects could be avoided. The way we shape the curvature of a form, governs the resonance and thus the user experience. By studying these principles, the architects can subdue the natural reverberation period e.g. the surfaces like metal, glass or stone would be visually perceived as very dense and reflective but introduction of sound absorbing materials within the space would entirely change its character. Thus a considerable amount of sound can also be absorbed in rooms having curved surfaces which usually happens in theatres or auditoriums.

But today, following this trend in every other room has resulted in platitudinal experiences. The visual character is given more priority than the acoustical although both contribute equally while experiencing a space. We architects should design in accordance with sound as well to ensure a better experience for the users in every space.