Dr. Mostafa Behzadfar Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development 2008-5079 16 43 2023 08 10 Evaluation of the Soundscape in the Territory of Sacred Places, Case Study: the Peripheral Territory of the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh Evaluation of the Soundscape in the Territory of Sacred Places, Case Study: the Peripheral Territory of the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh 53 72 176015 10.22034/aaud.2023.330004.2624 FA Shirin Eslami Ph.D. Candidate of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran (Corresponding Author). Bahador Zamani Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Homayoon Nooraei Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Journal Article 2022 02 16 Soundscapes, as one of the qualities constituting the territory of sacred places, with distinct perceptual, behavioral, social, and symbolic features, play a key role in mentally preparing pilgrims in the hierarchy of pilgrimage to these places. Therefore, urban designers and planners can contribute to the environmental richness of these sacred and spiritual territories by properly managing the soundscape according to contextual values. Today, the decline of pleasant sounds and the dominance of unpleasant sounds in the peripheral territory of the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh cause its cultural soundscape to require more attention. So, the present study aims to evaluate the soundscape in the peripheral territory of this holy shrine. The present study is descriptive-analytical mixed-method research. The soundscape in this territory is evaluated qualitatively using the soundwalking technique and quantitatively by measuring the Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level (Leq) using a TES-1358 Sound Level Meter (SLM) in two periods of day and night. Quantitative findings indicate that the day-night equivalent sound pressure level is higher than the standards approved by the Iranian Supreme Commission for Environment, and the values obtained during the day were higher than those obtained at night. In the pedestrianized areas specified for pilgrimage to the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, such as the Bahar walkway, Eram walkway, Enghelab walkway, and the area surrounding the holy Shrine in Astaneh Square and Imam Khomeini Square, the average day-night sound levels were within a more favorable range compared to other areas, with Imam Musa Sadr, and Taleghani axes and especially, Motahhari Square with the highest average sound level. Moreover, considering the spiritual and religious role of this territory, qualitative findings indicate the presence of numerous religious and cultural sound marks, among which the holy shrine is considered the most significant sound mark in this territory. However, the dominance of noise and anthrophonic sounds influence the identity of religious and cultural sound marks in this territory. Moreover, geophonic and biophonic sounds appropriate to the context of this territory, account for a small part of pleasant sounds. Soundscapes, as one of the qualities constituting the territory of sacred places, with distinct perceptual, behavioral, social, and symbolic features, play a key role in mentally preparing pilgrims in the hierarchy of pilgrimage to these places. Therefore, urban designers and planners can contribute to the environmental richness of these sacred and spiritual territories by properly managing the soundscape according to contextual values. Today, the decline of pleasant sounds and the dominance of unpleasant sounds in the peripheral territory of the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh cause its cultural soundscape to require more attention. So, the present study aims to evaluate the soundscape in the peripheral territory of this holy shrine. The present study is descriptive-analytical mixed-method research. The soundscape in this territory is evaluated qualitatively using the soundwalking technique and quantitatively by measuring the Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level (Leq) using a TES-1358 Sound Level Meter (SLM) in two periods of day and night. Quantitative findings indicate that the day-night equivalent sound pressure level is higher than the standards approved by the Iranian Supreme Commission for Environment, and the values obtained during the day were higher than those obtained at night. In the pedestrianized areas specified for pilgrimage to the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, such as the Bahar walkway, Eram walkway, Enghelab walkway, and the area surrounding the holy Shrine in Astaneh Square and Imam Khomeini Square, the average day-night sound levels were within a more favorable range compared to other areas, with Imam Musa Sadr, and Taleghani axes and especially, Motahhari Square with the highest average sound level. Moreover, considering the spiritual and religious role of this territory, qualitative findings indicate the presence of numerous religious and cultural sound marks, among which the holy shrine is considered the most significant sound mark in this territory. However, the dominance of noise and anthrophonic sounds influence the identity of religious and cultural sound marks in this territory. Moreover, geophonic and biophonic sounds appropriate to the context of this territory, account for a small part of pleasant sounds. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_176015_3ca6c7f2eb805b51aff2c9fe8cb51367.pdf