Designing the Future of Soundscapes and Cultural Acoustics
- UM Research
- Dec 5
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Associate Professor Dr. Nazli Bin Che Din
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment
Area of Expertise:
Architecture > Architectural Acoustics > Noise & Soundscape
In the world of environmental sound design, few names carry the same resonance as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nazli bin Che Din, a scholar, innovator, and cultural guardian whose work transforms spaces into living, breathing soundscapes.
He is not just an acoustician. He is a storyteller who uses sound as his language, engineering as his grammar, and architecture as his stage.
“Sound is life... Every space tells a story through its acoustics; it’s our job to make sure it’s a story worth hearing.” – says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nazli bin Che Din.
Where Science Meets Sensation
Dr. Nazli’s research is a rare blend of precision engineering, architectural design, and cultural heritage preservation. His expertise spans architectural acoustics, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), sustainable building technologies, immersive virtual environments, and historical soundscape preservation.
Educated in both engineering and architecture in Japan, he bridges technical mastery with aesthetic sensibility, creating spaces that are not only functional but emotionally resonant.
Classrooms That Speak Clearly
Over the past two years, Dr. Nazli has secured three major research grants that are already reshaping the acoustic landscapes of Malaysia.
The first, a RM157,000 Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) award, set out to future-proof classroom acoustics for the hybrid learning era. Twenty classrooms received customised acoustic upgrades which reducing noise, improving speech clarity, and enhancing student engagement.
The classrooms that received customised acoustic upgrades.
The impact has been immediate: thousands of students at the Universiti Malaya are now learning in environments optimised for focus and understanding. The research has also generated 10 conference papers, two indexed journal articles, and a PhD thesis nearing completion.
Virtual Reality, Real-World Acoustics
With his second FRGS grant (RM128,000), Dr. Nazli is taking sound education into the immersive realm. In collaboration with a private VR development company, he has built fully functional virtual environments where students can explore and hear acoustic design in action, turning theory-heavy lessons into interactive, sensory-rich experiences.
Two book chapters have already emerged from this project, which has the potential to revolutionise architectural education across the country.
Preserving the Voices of the Past
His third major project, funded by a RM25,000 Global Transformation Research Grant, goes beyond innovation into preservation. Dr. Nazli is digitally archiving the soundscapes of Kuala Kangsar and Klang, Malay royal towns steeped in history. By reconstructing the audio environments of the 1990s and integrating them into VR, he is creating immersive tourism experiences that allow visitors to walk through history and hear it as it once was.
Collaboration That Resonates
For Dr. Nazli, research is never isolated from the real world. His classroom acoustics work is already embedded in the Future-Ready Teaching Program at Universiti Malaya.
His VR soundscape project is being developed with the cooperation of Kuala Kangsar and Klang Municipal Council and local heritage groups. In industry, he currently works with partners with Guocera to create high-performance acoustic tiles for mosques and public spaces, and has worked with Gema Acoustics, Vibrant Echo and SRM University (India) to improve acoustic performance in religious buildings.
“These aren’t just collaborations on paper, we build solutions that people can experience every day.”
Impact That Echoes
From national noise criteria guidelines with the Public Works Department (JKR) to one of the largest databases of mosque acoustic performances in Malaysia, Dr. Nazli’s work reaches across education, heritage, and industry. His comparative acoustic standards for mosques, churches, and temples are now vital references for architects nationwide.
Dr. Nazli’s next chapter includes studying sound insulation and noise transmission in multi-storey housing, expanding psychoacoustic research on human well-being and developing sustainable acoustic materials for healthcare and public spaces.
All of this builds on his commitment to research-driven, globally benchmarked solutions that place Malaysia alongside the UK, USA, Japan, and South Korea in acoustic excellence.
Mentoring the Next Generation
As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Design and the Built Environment and Vice President of the Malaysian Society for Vibration and Acoustics, Dr. Nazli also guides over 20 postgraduate students, ensuring his legacy resonates far into the future.
The Sound of Purpose
For Dr. Nazli, acoustics is more than a science, it is a way to enrich life, energise communities, and protect heritage. His work transforms classrooms into centres of clarity, turns heritage towns into living audio museums, and ensures that sound remains a cherished part of human civilisation.
In every project, Dr. Nazli proves that when science meets artistry, the results are not just heard, they are felt.
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Researcher featured:
Associate Prof. Dr. Nazli Bin Che Din
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment
For inquiries, please contact:
T: +603-79675713 (O), 019-3643327 (M)
Author:
Ms Tan Wei Nie
With a keen interest, Tan Wei Nie, a PhD candidate in law, enriches her studies by fusing science with narrative, uncovering connections between the two fields. Her passion for nature and staying active fuels her enthusiasm for life and learning, infusing her journey with unexpected thrills and excitement.
Copyedit:
Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid, Assistant Registrar, UM
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