Bioinspired acoustic design for architecture: a review and conceptual framework bridging soundscape, nature and multisensory inclusion

The influence of sound on the behaviour of organisms and ecosystems presents underexplored opportunities for bioinspired architecture. By drawing on ecoacoustic principles, it is possible to incorporate ecological and perceptual processes into architectural strategies that move beyond visual paradigms towards genuinely multisensory environments. This article develops a conceptual framework informed by a structured scoping review of literature published between 2015 and 2025, conducted across Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct, which identified and charted connections between bioacoustics, ecoacoustics, soundscape ecology, architectural design and multisensory inclusion. Three design principles are articulated: Sonic Biophilia, which enhances interactions among species, soundscape and the built environment; Translocated Sound Memory, which brings soundscapes from distinct geographical origins to foster affective connections between places; and Multisensory Sonic Inclusion, which converts sound into visual or tactile stimuli, thereby broadening accessibility for neurodiverse and sensory-diverse populations. These principles are organised within a feasibility-performance-validation matrix, outlining pathways for implementation, technological mediation and future validation through perceptual and physiological metrics. The framework is illustrated by architectural cases and seeks to expand the scope of bio-architecture from morpho-functional analogies to sensorial and ecological dimensions, offering a basis for built environments that support biodiversity, collective memory and perceptual equity. This work provides a reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to integrate sound, nature and synaesthesia into architectural practice, while also offering conceptual and operational foundations that outline future pathways for articulating these principles into tested design guidelines.