What is it about?

Churches are designed to provide comfortable and meaningful spaces for worship, reflection, and communication. Windows and other structural openings play an important role in bringing natural light and ventilation into these buildings. However, their influence on indoor sound quality is often overlooked. This research investigates how the size of building openings and the surrounding environment affect sound inside contemporary Protestant churches in Malaysia. Two churches with contrasting surroundings were examined: one set in a green landscape and another surrounded by buildings with glass façades. Using three-dimensional architectural modelling and computer-based acoustic simulations, different opening sizes of 5%, 10% and 15% were evaluated. The findings reveal that the acoustic effects of building openings depend not only on their size but also on the surrounding environment. Green landscapes can help absorb sound, while nearby glass façades may reflect sound back towards the church. Consequently, increasing the size of openings does not always produce the same acoustic outcome. The effects also differ depending on whether sound originates inside or outside the building. This research highlights the importance of considering architectural openings and the surrounding environment together when designing places of worship. It offers useful insights for architects and building designers seeking to balance natural lighting, ventilation and acoustic comfort while creating more pleasant worship environments.

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Why is it important?

The uniqueness of this research lies in examining structural openings as an architectural and acoustic design variable in contemporary Protestant churches, while simultaneously considering the influence of the surrounding urban environment. Although building openings are traditionally associated with natural lighting and ventilation, their contribution to indoor acoustic performance has received comparatively limited attention, particularly in the context of contemporary Malaysian churches. A distinctive contribution of this study is its comparative investigation of two churches situated within contrasting environmental settings: a green landscape and an urban environment dominated by glass façades. Through three-dimensional modelling and ODEON acoustic simulations, the study evaluates different opening configurations and examines both internal and external sound sources. The findings demonstrate that the acoustic consequences of structural openings are influenced by the interaction between opening dimensions, surrounding materials and sound propagation conditions. This research is particularly timely as contemporary religious architecture increasingly seeks to integrate environmental responsiveness, natural ventilation, daylighting and indoor comfort. Its findings encourage architects and designers to move beyond conventional approaches to opening design and consider the surrounding environment as an integral part of acoustic planning. The study provides an additional perspective for developing more environmentally responsive and acoustically considered places of worship, with potential applications beyond churches to other religious and public buildings.

Perspectives

As an architectural researcher, I have always been interested in understanding how architectural design influences the way people experience buildings, beyond their visual appearance and functional requirements. This publication reflects my interest in exploring the relationship between architectural elements, environmental context and acoustic performance, particularly within places of worship. I believe that windows and structural openings should not be considered solely as architectural features for natural lighting and ventilation. They also influence how sound interacts with buildings and their surroundings. Through this research, I sought to highlight that a building's acoustic performance cannot always be understood by examining its interior in isolation. The surrounding landscape, neighbouring buildings and their material characteristics are equally important considerations. One particularly interesting aspect of this research is the contrasting influence of green landscapes and glass façades on sound behaviour. It reinforces my belief that architectural design requires an integrated understanding of both indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. For me, this publication represents another step towards bridging architectural design and building acoustics. I hope its findings encourage architects, researchers and designers to consider sound as an essential component of environmentally responsive architecture, particularly in creating places of worship that support comfort, communication and meaningful human experiences.

Associate Professor Nazli Bin Che Din
University of Malaya

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This page is a summary of: <b>EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL OPENINGS ON ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE IN CONTEMPORARY MALAYSIAN PROTESTANT CHURCHES ACROSS VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTS </b>, Journal of Surveying Construction & Property, June 2026, Univ. of Malaya,
DOI: 10.22452/jscp.vol17no1.2.
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