Echoes of inclusion: The soundscape of age-friendly Raheny, Dublin

Source abstract

While age-friendly urban design traditionally prioritises physical accessibility, the acoustic environment remains a neglected dimension, despite it being an essential consideration in the realisation of restorative living conditions for older residents. This article investigates the soundscape in Raheny, Dublin, an area with a long-standing commitment to age-friendly initiatives. We adopt the ISO 12913 framework, distinguishing the acoustic environment (physical) from the soundscape (perceived) with a novel approach of graph-based network analysis using closeness centrality metrics. The study employed seven soundwalks during consecutive days along routes encompassing major community facilities and diverse land uses. Acoustic conditions were systematically evaluated across main roads, residential streets, narrow alleyways and parks. The findings provide insight into the auditory environment of Raheny and its relation with well-being and social participation of older adults, highlighting the importance of integrating soundscape considerations into the broader framework of age-friendly urban planning.