Design and application of acoustics workshops as part of interior architecture design studio

Architectural acoustics serves as a vital factor in creating functional and comfortable spaces. Nevertheless, it greatly influences the space experience. Therefore, it is an inseparable component of spatial design. Spatial designers, such as interior architects and architects, should possess the ability to identify potential acoustical problems during the design phase, propose suitable solutions, and collaborate with acousticians, when necessary, effectively communicating with them. Hence, it becomes essential to establish a strong foundation for these skills throughout the process of undergraduate studies. Spatial design education aims to develop future designers with the essential qualities of experience, intuition, skills, and knowledge required for the design process. Design studio courses are the core of spatial design education, where students are expected to integrate diverse knowledge; however, visual concerns often overshadow other disciplines, hindering the application of theoretical knowledge. Architectural acoustics discipline is one of these theoretical subjects that students tend to overlook in the design process. Architectural acoustics should not be separated from the design process but should be integrated and emphasized to enhance the overall design outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of acoustics workshops conducted parallel to the design studio course in encouraging the application of acoustic knowledge within students' design projects. The study involved two groups of students, control group, experimental group, and data was collected through surveys. Additionally, the same surveys were administered to the same participants at the end of the next semester to assess the long-term effects. The study's findings demonstrate that conducting acoustics workshops parallel to the design studio course may have positive effects on the students' acoustical awareness levels, acoustical knowledge, and application levels of acoustics in their design studio projects. Moreover, this approach has the potential to be adapted to other subjects in spatial design-related disciplines. With the integration of workshops, design studios may become a beneficial educational setting for teaching students how to make use of their theoretical knowledge in real-life situations. However, the method and the evaluation of the workshops needs further improvements and more testing. Future research can be conducted with larger sample sizes, in various educational settings, with other disciplines related with design education and practice, and in a well-controlled experimental setting.