Plans to develop and improve a regional residential environment based on current residential and acoustic environments have been developed. A survey of the residents of Mokpo, a port city located on the south-western tip of the Republic of Korea, examined the relationship between the respondents’ residential and acoustic environments and their awareness of their sound environment. Ambient sounds were categorised as: (a) work/mechanical noise; (b) natural environment sound; (c) living environment noise; (d) maritime environment sound; (e) traditional environment sound; (f) water environment sound; and (g) regional environment sound. This categorisation was found to be affected by factors such as sex, age, and educational background. The ambient sounds found most satisfying were identified as (e) and (g), in this order, which confirmed the importance of the acoustic environment in residential regions. The existential value of sound in the environment was also evaluated by re-categorising the sounds into another set: (a) traditional sound; (b) traffic noise; (c) regional vitality sound; (d) nature sound; (e) construction work sound; (f) rural environment sound; and (g) train and mechanical sound. These groups were found to be affected by age, educational background, region, and utility. The (c),(d), and (e) sounds, in particular, showed a stark difference in perception: the first two were rated as ‘‘better to be present’’ by respondents from the new downtown area, whereas the construction work sound was viewed ‘‘positive’’ by respondents from the old downtown area. The results confirmed the need for more balanced urban development planning.
This study investigated the seasonal preference for visual and auditory elements of streetscape of Korean citizen, and examined the interaction of these elements in different seasons. According to an environmental psychological approach called the caption evaluation method, 45 college students examined the streetscape of Namwon City in North Jeolla Province in different periods of the four seasons. There was interaction between the visual as well as auditory elements of streetscape and with seasons. In spring, summer and autumn, visual preference for natural elements was the highest while visual preference for artificial elements was the highest in winter. Analysis of the order of visual preference of elements found that respecting and enhancing natural/ecological environment and traditional/cultural streetscape of local community was important to improve the visual preference of streetscape. In spring, summer and autumn, auditory preference for natural sounds was the highest while auditory preference for social sounds was the highest in winter. This paper provides an insight for future determination, to decide what attention is required to improve visual preference of the urban elements; to ensure urban landscaping would provide a harmonious ecological environment that would respect culture, tradition and nature.
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