Resumen
The present paper explores the influence of the physical environmental qualities of ?quiet?. courtyards (degree of naturalness and utilization) on residents? noise responses. A questionnaire study was conducted in urban residential areas with road-traffic noise exposure between LAeq,24h 58 to 68 dB at the most exposed façade. The dwellings had ?quiet? indoor section/s and faced a ?quiet? outdoor courtyard (LAeq,24h < 48 dB façade reflex included). Data were collected from 385 residents and four groups were formed based on sound-level categories (58?62 and 63?68 dB) and classification of the ?quiet? courtyards into groups with low and high physical environmental quality. At both sound-level categories, the results indicate that access to high-quality ?quiet? courtyards is associated with less noise annoyance and noise-disturbed outdoor activities among the residents. Compared to low-quality ?quiet? courtyards, high-quality courtyards can function as an attractive restorative environment providing residents with a positive soundscape, opportunities for rest, relaxation and play as well as social relations that potentially reduce the adverse effects of noise. However, access to quietness and a high-quality courtyard can only compensate partly for high sound levels at façades facing the streets, thus, 16% and 29% were still noise annoyed at 58?62 and 63?68 dB, respectively. Implications of the ?quiet?-side concept are discussed.