%0 Journal Article
%T Attractive "Quiet" Courtyards: A Potential Modifier of Urban Residents' Responses to Road Traffic Noise?
%A Anita Gidl£¿f-Gunnarsson
%A Evy £¿hrstr£¿m
%J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
%D 2010
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/ijerph7093359
%X The present paper explores the influence of the physical environmental qualities of ¡°quiet¡± courtyards (degree of naturalness and utilization) on residents¡¯ noise responses. A questionnaire study was conducted in urban residential areas with road-traffic noise exposure between L Aeq,24h 58 to 68 dB at the most exposed fa£¿ade. The dwellings had ¡°quiet¡± indoor section/s and faced a ¡°quiet¡± outdoor courtyard (L Aeq,24h < 48 dB fa£¿ade reflex included). Data were collected from 385 residents and four groups were formed based on sound-level categories (58¨C62 and 63¨C68 dB) and classification of the ¡°quiet¡± courtyards into groups with low and high physical environmental quality. At both sound-level categories, the results indicate that access to high-quality ¡°quiet¡± courtyards is associated with less noise annoyance and noise-disturbed outdoor activities among the residents. Compared to low-quality ¡°quiet¡± courtyards, high-quality courtyards can function as an attractive restorative environment providing residents with a positive soundscape, opportunities for rest, relaxation and play as well as social relations that potentially reduce the adverse effects of noise. However, access to quietness and a high-quality courtyard can only compensate partly for high sound levels at fa£¿ades facing the streets, thus, 16% and 29% were still noise annoyed at 58¨C62 and 63¨C68 dB, respectively. Implications of the ¡°quiet¡±-side concept are discussed.
%K road-traffic noise
%K ¡°quiet¡± side
%K ¡°quiet¡± courtyard
%K annoyance
%K perceived soundscape
%K restorative environments
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/7/9/3359