Exploring acoustic performance integration at early stage of architectural design

Most commonly, an architectural room is designed without any consideration for acoustic behavior. Acoustic efficiency is improved ex post, by addition of corrective panels, often absorptive, sometime reflective, more rarely diffusive. Acoustic design is although complex and requires a global and integrated approach considering the whole space: volume geometry, surface pattern, material location and extension, which are already chosen before the evaluation of the acoustic performances. This leads to lack in proper integration into the overall design and higher costs. Since 2020, the international workshop MOGE (Material Optimization and Geometric Exploration) focuses on acoustic design for architects. The design approach developed within this framework is based on: (1) multi-factorial design of global shape and local details; (2) improvement of material by digital, and vice versa; (3) embodied pedagogy through physical experiences. The paper will present the pedagogical process of the workshop as well as students works. The goal is to promote the design process for future architects, involving the acoustic performances ex ante and developing adaptative systems.