"Stadtklanggestaltung" - The importance of urban sound design in the field of administrative noise control

Cities sound. They can be loud, quiet, monotonous, or vibrant and exciting. How urban spaces sound in detail depends on the respective framework, which includes the urban planning and the different activities of the residents. The focus dealing with sounds of the cities in acoustic engineering lies mainly on the topic of noise. In fact, environmental noise has a negative impact on our health and reduces the quality of life. But the sound of cities is much more than just noise. Harmonious and appealing city sounds have a positive effect on well-being; it promotes orientation, and it can help to strengthen social and cultural bonds. Therefore, it is important to consider the sound of the city from the planning stage. This contribution sets out to show the possibilities of including planning tools within the concept of "Stadtklanggestaltung" (Urban Sound Design) into the field of administrative noise control and how the soundscape standardization sets a supporting framework to implement them in practice. Specific urban sound design and planning can make a significant contribution to developing high-quality urban places and to preventing possible conflicts in relation to controversial urban sound situations.