Analysis of sound propagation within elementary and composite architectural forms

The diversity of architectural forms, together with the materials used, fundamentally determines how sound behaves in enclosed spaces. While previous research has predominantly focused on the acoustics of complex, historically or functionally specific buildings, it has given limited attention to the elementary volumetric forms that constitute the basis of architectural design. This study investigates the acoustic behavior of 20 generative geometries, ranging from basic primitives to long rooms, coupled spaces, and sequential volumes, that common architectural typologies. Room impulse responses are examined in a controlled setup through both ray-tracing simulations and the diffusion equation model (DEM). T30 values and relative sound pressure level (SPL) differences are systematically compared, and DEM is further employed to visualize time-dependent energy flow, revealing how form itself governs patterns of sound distribution. Material variations are introduced to assess the impact of inhomogeneous absorption, while a pilot field measurement in a corridor validates long-room acoustical predictions. By re-examining sound propagation in simplified forms, this research establishes the acoustic potential of architectural form as a primary design parameter, offering a framework that bridges methodological innovation with design practice in the early stages of acoustically informed architecture.