Acoustic suitability for heritage-listed buildings using BRASS software: a case study of Armando Gonzaga Theatre, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

摘要

The Armando Gonzaga Theatre, located in Marechal Hermes, a low income neighborhood in Rio the Janeiro, is for the local inhabitants the single cultural facility in the spot, being used for different purposes, from plays to acoustic and amplified musical concerts. Although, since 1989, had been included in a list of artistic-cultural heritage buildings by INEPAC (State Institute of Cultural Heritage), is currently in very poor conditions by lack of maintenance. The aim of this paper is the use of BRASS software as tool to propose solutions to improve the acoustical performance in the Armando Gonzaga Theatre considering a compromise between speech and music in order to contemplate the variety of uses of the room and compatible with the heritage limitations required by the INEPAC. The methods used are the simulations of the current situation compared to the measurements in the place, and the simulations of situations with new interventions, using BRASS software (Brazilian Room Acoustic Simulator), developed in the Urban Engineering Program of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The results show that it is possible to make these proposed adjustments, improving the acoustic performance of the building, but respecting its original characteristics.