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Description
This paper presents the findings from a Doctoral thesis in Architecture, investigating the impact of the sound environment on hospital patients’ well-being. Representative inpatient wards were selected within four Italian hospitals to analyze acoustic criticalities, noise sources, and the subjective experience of users, using a mixed-methods approach. The results highlight that WHO limits are systematically exceeded. The complexity of the hospital environment needs an integrated approach that encompasses the various factors influencing the acoustic quality of the spaces. Finally, the research proposes a practical framework, consisting of a replicable investigation protocol and a checklist of design strategies to ensure acoustic quality control throughout every project phase.