In this study, the spatial characteristics of urban religious spaces were explored. A Catholic (Myeong-dong) cathedral and a Buddhist (Bongeun) temple, both situated in the Seoul urban environment, were included as representative urban religious spaces in Korea. Each space has its own unique spatiality, derived from the related historical, cultural, and religious development processes. The two religious precincts serve as both a religious space and a social area for the contemporary urban population, thus they were examined to investigate the comparative results of the literature review, the on-site impressions, and the social survey's tendencies. The results indicated distinct spatiality and spatial functions: the Catholic cathedral precinct plays a significant role in social functions, while the Buddhist temple precinct is critical to religious functions.
In the present study, tranquility in urban religious places including a cathedral and a Buddhist temple has been assessed by soundwalks. Both Myung-dong Cathedral and Bongeun Temple located in the center of Seoul were selected as measurement sites. During the soundwalks, audio-visual recordings were conducted at selected positions. From the field measurements, the temporal and frequency characteristics of the sound environment in two religious places were explored. Participants evaluated their perceived soundscape using a soundwalk questionnaire along the soundwalk routes in the church and temple gardens in order to investigate the value of tranquility as urban stress relievers. From the results, indicators representing tranquility difference in particular soundscapes were examined.
Tranquility in view of urban church soundscape was assessed by field measurements and soundwalks. The Cathedral Myeong-dong located in the heart of Seoul was selected as a measurement site. Five sites adjacent to the church buildings were selected for field measurements and audio recordings were conducted at the sites. From the field measurements, the temporal and frequency characteristics, and several acoustic parameters of the sound environment at each site were analyzed. In addition, a general questionnaire survey was conducted to identify people's perception on the current church soundscape and design elements to enhance the spaces. Individual soundwalks were also performed in order to evaluate soundscape perception in the church garden. From the results, the indicators representing tranquility sensation in urban church garden were investigated.
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