STUDY OF A HISTORICAL CHURCH BASED ON ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS AND COMPUTER SIMULATION

This paper reports the study of the acoustics of the Palatine Chapel in the Royal Palace in Caserta (Italy). Nowadays this church hosts also meetings and public concerts. In order to know its acoustic characteristics, measurements were carried out in unoccupied conditions. Average reverberation times of about 5 s were recorded at mid frequencies which were deemed inappropriate for most of public events hosted in this room. As customary, the geometrical acoustics model of the room corresponding to the measurements in the unoccupied condition was validated by an iterative procedure to reduce the difference between measured and calculated values of EDT and C-80. To obtain realistic data with occupancy, simulations were then performed. The validated model was hence modified with the addition of the audience in order to obtain acoustic parameters more suitable for music events. Furthermore, the paper reports the study of the effects of temporary acoustic treatments compatible with the specific nature of the room.