The Effects of Infrasound on Humans in Living Spaces

Alma Hadžić; Sanela Klarić

doi:10.38027/mediterranean-cities_vol6no1_2

Authors

Alma Hadžić Department of Architecture, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8438-5525
Sanela Klarić Department of Architecture, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4951-4403

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38027/mediterranean-cities_vol6no1_2

Keywords:

Infrasound, Salutogenic Architecture, Sick-Building Syndrome, Environmental Stressors, Architectural Acoustics

Abstract

Infrasound, defined as acoustic waves below 20 Hz, has been documented to influence human physiology and perception, yet remains largely absent from architectural discourse. This review synthesizes cross-disciplinary evidence from acoustics, physiology, and environmental psychology to reposition infrasound as a legitimate architectural design concern.. Findings show that everyday building services—compressors, HVAC systems, and ventilation fans—generate persistent low‑frequency fields that interact with room geometry, producing localized resonance “hot spots.” These amplified zones overlap with resonance ranges of the human body and neural rhythms, contributing to discomfort, fatigue, or subtle cognitive modulation. Evidence remains heterogeneous, and individual sensitivity varies, yet the architectural significance lies in recognizing buildings as resonant systems that can unintentionally sustain infrasonic fields. The study advocates integrating low‑frequency awareness into design workflows, service placement, room proportioning, and post‑occupancy evaluations, reframing infrasound as a spatial and environmental variable within salutogenic and evidence‑based architecture.

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