Understanding the acoustics of St. John’s Baptistery in Pisa through a virtual approach

St. John’s Baptistery in Pisa, renowned for its exceptional reverberation among medieval central-symmetry buildings, stands out acoustically even when compared to similar structures, piquing scholarly interest. A study leveraged virtual acoustics and numerical simulations calibrated with in situ measurements, material properties, and liturgical use data to dissect the factors influencing its unique sound behavior. By modeling both the current geometry and early design hypotheses, researchers aimed to unravel the architectural evolution shaping its acoustic signature. The analysis of a specifically recorded Gregorian chant further supported the necessity for large reverberation in this historic site, offering critical insights for its preservation.

D’Orazio, D., Fratoni, G., Rossi, E., & Garai, M. (2020). Understanding the acoustics of St. John’s Baptistery in Pisa through a virtual approach. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 13(3), 320–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2020.1728382