Façade design through parametric modelling for environmental noise mitigation in a courtyard

The reduction of environmental noise in cities is essential to protect public health. Architectural design can support the mitigation of environmental noise in cities, by means of a performance-aware design decisions. Starting from a reference courtyard in Turin characterized with in-situ measurements, this study explores through a parametric approach how the design of a double skin applied to the façades of the courtyard can reduce the environmental noise levels within the courtyard. The proposed double skin façade is composed by a pattern of protruding wedges whose geometry and material properties are varied parametrically. The sound pressure level is predicted for the different geometric and material design options of the double skins in outdoor spaces at the courtyard level and over the façade, and in indoor spaces with open windows to identify the most beneficial design strategies. The results evidence the noise reduction potential of sound absorbing materials applied to the double skin, and that the performances of the totally absorbing double skin are comparable to those achieved with the sound absorbing material applied to the lower sides of the wedges.