A re-examination of traditional procedures for evaluation of occupied buildings, marrying objective evaluation and subjective judgement of acoustic quality, has pointed to a wide range of areas where architectural planning could be improved. Systematic methods were used to assess acoustical problems: interviews, technical observation, objective measurements, and computer simulation. From an extensive report of the findings, some results of a survey in Rio de Janeiro, a typical tropical region in Brazil, are highlighted. Data obtained from the reaction to environmental noise and those related to building acoustics are considered. The results underscore the importance of adequate architectural planning in regard to climate conditions and particular social-cultural and economic characteristics.