Indoor Soundscape: Integrating Sound, Experience and Architecture (2nd Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2nd edition, which follows the successful debut of the first edition. This Special Issue of Acoustics invites original research on the perception, analysis, and design of indoor soundscapes. The indoor soundscape framework includes built entities, sound environments, and the contextual experience of the user. This condensation of diverse facets into a single holistic approach has resulted in the establishment of this research field. From this perspective, users and their interactions with their environment become a dominant component of the evaluation process.

We invite contributions that explore the perception, evaluation, and design of indoor soundscapes across diverse environments, ranging from residential spaces and offices to schools, hospitals, and public interiors. This Special Issue focuses on human-centered, interdisciplinary approaches to understanding how aural environments influence well-being, cognitive performance, and user satisfaction. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: acoustic comfort, soundscape evaluation methods, psychological and behavioral responses to sound, biophilic and inclusive design, and the integration of VR/AR, machine learning, and smart building technologies in shaping indoor soundscapes.

We welcome studies addressing the following topics:

• Soundscape evaluation in residential, educational, healthcare, and commercial interiors;
• Acoustic comfort and user perception;
• Psychoacoustic and temporal analysis methods;
• Architectural elements shaping sound environments;
• Enclosed and semi-enclosed public space acoustics;
• Human-centered methods, including surveys, interviews, and VR-based simulations;
• Innovative tools for soundscape design and analysis.

This issue highlights interdisciplinary perspectives, where architecture, acoustics, psychology, and technology converge to advance the design of healthier, more responsive, and inclusive indoor environments.

Join us in redefining the future of indoor soundscapes.

Dr. Papatya Nur Dökmeci Yörükoğlu
Prof. Dr. Jian Kang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Acoustics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.