Reducing traffic noise through construction design and sound barriers

Nothing at all. You won’t manage it alone because of the reflections from the surrounding buildings. Educate yourself about sound propagation. Noise barriers as an active noise control measure are only suitable near the emission source at reasonable heights to reduce noise immission. The further the wall shifts from the source toward the receiver, the higher it has to be to achieve anything. In your case, building height. If the reflections weren’t there.

Position buildings more in a north-south orientation, like 87 and 87.Terrace facing south.

As said, 15 dB is utopian.

As said, at that distance from the emission and with reasonable wall heights... probably not. Maybe psychoacoustically, but the measurable effect will be limited.

Exactly. The noise is only in the morning and afternoon for about 2 hours. The noise barrier would, if it even brings any effect, divide the property in the middle. I agree with MarCh on that. Position the house more in a north-south direction and install proper soundproof windows facing the street. That will likely bring significantly more benefit than a wall in the garden and will probably be cheaper as well. The reflection from No. 91, for example, remains with or without the wall. So you also put a 2.5 m high wall there and enjoy the view :)

Direct sound hits with full force, diffracted sound is weakened. Reflections are a serious problem, they are hardly controllable.

In your specific situation, I would be very confident that the wall will be effective. Criteria: - Wall continuous without gaps - Effective wall height sufficiently high (lärmorama gives a first indication), terrain height profile considered, terrace not built too elevated - Noise protection either close to the source or close to the "listening point" -> the latter is the case here - No continuous high wall in the south that could cause strong reflections. If something is built there, reflections could occur - You will not be able to avoid reflections from lateral buildings. But you are in the near range of the street, where direct sound is much more disturbing than diffusely reflected sound. The goal is that a single loud motorcycle or a passing excavator no longer bangs quite as loud, and you can reduce that quite well if the direct sound is gone. You won’t create a quiet spa, but the wall at least has a good chance. And the approach of getting advice from professionals is the right one.

If you position the terrace as suggested, it should be relatively quiet. Obviously, you can hear the traffic, but not that loud. Our terrace is relatively protected from noise. (similar to what suggested) I only noticed how loud it is when I sat for a longer time chatting with the neighbor in his yard.

The flowing traffic is not such a problem, starting engines, slamming doors, etc. are.

We manage without a noise barrier. However, we are about 120 cm above street level.

That sounds good. Let’s see what the architect says (when I finally have one).

You won't create a spa resort for yourself, but the wall at least has a good chance. And the approach of getting advice from professionals is the right one.

Well, if the professional is a specialist (and seller?) for soundproof walls, you pretty much already know what the result will look like ;-)

In your specific situation, I would be very confident that the wall will be effective. Criteria: - Wall continuous without gaps - Effective wall height sufficiently high (with larmorama you get a first indication), terrain height profile considered, terrace not built too elevated - Noise protection either close to the source or close to the “listening point” -> the latter is the case here - No continuous high wall in the south that could cause strong reflections. If something is built there someday, reflections could occur - Reflections from lateral buildings you will not be able to avoid. But you are in the immediate vicinity of the street, and direct sound there is much more disturbing than diffusely reflected sound. It’s about ensuring that the individual loud motorcycle or the passing excavator doesn’t bang quite so loudly anymore, and you can quite well reduce that when the direct sound is gone. You will not create a quiet spa resort, but at least the wall has a good chance. And the approach of getting advice from professionals is the right one.

I am really grateful for your contributions! That helps enormously to take off one’s blinders.

The reflection of No. 91

Well, it will be significantly quieter than the direct sound purely due to the distance attenuation.