Tag Archives: acoustic

What Is Acoustic Insulation?

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Good acoustics is important in any design, and it is important to plan for this right from the start of a project, from designing to building it. Note that if a building is designed well with good acoustic design, it can make people feel better mentally and physically. This is because, loud noises can make people stressed, and anxious, and raise their blood pressure, leading to health problems.

Designer: Interesting Times Gang and OBOS

What is the importance of sound insulation?

According to studies, noise pollution presents a significant risk to people’s health, especially for those living and working in urban settings. While controlling noise at its origin isn’t always feasible, effective soundproofing of buildings can provide a valuable solution. Installing soundproofing materials in the roof or building exterior can greatly reduce external noise from sources like traffic or airplanes. Within buildings, insulation can improve privacy and mitigate disturbance from neighboring properties, such as music or footsteps from upstairs apartments. This is particularly advantageous when applied to partitions between different spaces in residential or office buildings. Utilizing sound insulation boards can help minimize noise intrusion in both living and working environments.

What are the various forms of sound propagation?

Image courtesy of: photovs

Building acoustics studies how sound travels through walls, ceilings, and roofs, with insulation needs determined by factors such as area size and the types of sound transmission, whether direct or through walls.

• Direct sound transmission involves sound passing directly through a wall, ceiling, or floor.
• Flanking noise is the noise that reaches a room through an indirect path. For example, it could be noise from a neighboring apartment reaching your bedroom through a route other than through the shared wall, or noise from a hallway reaching your office through a route other than through the door.
• Other forms of sound transmission include leakage through inadequately sealed doors and windows, brickwork, and uninsulated pipelines.

Image courtesy of: bilanol

What are the best materials for acoustic insulation?

Discover the top materials that are suitable for acoustic insulation.

Acoustic Panels and Treatments

Soundproofing involves the use of acoustic panels and treatments to absorb and minimize sound waves, reducing resonance and unwanted noise. It’s crucial in places like recording studios, theaters, and restaurants. Different styles, like foam panels and diffusers, cater to various acoustic needs.

Designers: Alberto Sánchez & Mut Design Studio

Image courtesy of: duallogic

Alberto Sánchez and Mut Design Studio innovate with Beetle Acoustic Panels, drawing from the insect world for design inspiration. These panels, shaped like beetle exoskeletons, offer a range of colors and sizes, transforming utilitarian sound absorption into artistic accents. Despite lacking spines like beetles, a central spine connects the panels, emphasizing symmetry. This experiment showcases creativity’s boundless nature and encourages finding inspiration in unexpected places, sparking joy with quirky shapes and vibrant colors.

Designer: KEM Studio for Loftwall

Working from home has introduced a whole new routine, but one annoyance is listening to my husband’s constant office meetings. The noise is distracting, even with closed doors. Tempo offers a solution—a modular wall and ceiling baffle system that doubles as art. With 12 customizable modules, it absorbs sound and adds visual flair to any room. Easy to install with a CNC dowel system and cork plugs, Tempo’s various colors and patterns allow for endless combinations. It’s like acoustic eye candy, perfect for home offices, conference rooms, or bedrooms, transforming spaces both visually and acoustically with the ease of IKEA’s modularity and the trendy Japandi aesthetic.

Echo panels are gaining significance in room acoustics, now integral to interior design. Kirei introduces its sustainable Kirei Air Baffle, drawing inspiration from Nike Air Max, to enhance sound in high-ceiling spaces. Utilizing recycled PET EchoPanel material filled with Nike Grind fluff, these baffles come in various models and sizes, improving acoustic performance and adding aesthetic value. With customization options in 33 colors and easy installation, they contribute to a softer room ambiance and sound, elevating the functionality and aesthetics of any space with Kirei’s architectural design elements.

Designer: Michael DiTullo

The Kirei Air Baffle, an overhead acoustic panel, enhances sound quality in high-ceilinged spaces. What sets it apart, beyond its superior sound performance, is its sustainability. Even in the realm of acoustics, sustainability is achievable with the use of environmentally conscious materials.

Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam panels, renowned for their porous and lightweight design, excel at absorbing sound waves. They’re particularly favored for reducing reverberation and controlling noise levels in settings like media rooms, music studios, and home offices.

Double Glass

Double-glazed windows with acoustic laminated glass are highly effective in reducing external noise, including car and street noise, making them perfect for urban environments. They offer a great alternative for soundproofing both homes and offices. Note that Double-glazed windows are made out of two glass panes separated by Argon gas. This specific gas is a poor thermal conductor. As a result, the sound or heat does not pass through the second glass pane and into the other side of the window.

Mineral Wool

Image courtesy of: bilanol

Made from mineral wool extracted from minerals, this material provides powerful sound insulation. It’s not only a thermal insulator but also commonly utilized in wall cavities, ceilings, and other spaces to minimize noise transfer between rooms.

Glass Wool

Glass wool, also called fiberglass insulation, serves as a popular choice for thermal insulation. Its effective sound absorption properties also make it cost-effective for soundproofing purposes. It’s commonly applied to walls and ceilings to provide dual insulation services.

Textile

Textile-based sound-absorbing materials like heavy curtains, carpets, and fabric-wrapped panels are commonly found in quiet-seeking homes and offices. Beyond their noise-reducing function, they also contribute to the visual appeal of their surroundings.

Designer: Claudio Bellini

In modern office settings, privacy remains vital despite open layouts. Milan-based Claudio Bellini design studio addresses this with FP7, acoustic panels serving as both dividers and noise absorbers. Specifically for open offices, FP7 visually delineates private areas while absorbing sound. Available in various colors, these panels create a cohesive look. Made from embedded cushioning and soft fabric, they offer flexibility in arrangement to suit different privacy needs. A finalist at the 2021 iF Design Awards, FP7 seamlessly integrates with contemporary office culture, providing private spaces for discussions and collaboration.

Sustainable Design

Designer: Jonas Edvard

In sustainable design, Jonas Edvard is known for his innovative use of organic materials to create functional and attractive objects. His latest creation, the Myx Sail / Floor panel, showcased at the 2023 Mindcraft Project, is made from mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow. This 1m x 1m panel not only shows the strength of composite biomaterials but also reflects Edvard’s commitment to responsible design.

Designer:Baux

Consider acoustic panels for your office or co-working space when soundproofing isn’t an option. They reduce noise and can serve as room dividers. Baux, a Swedish brand, prioritizes sustainability by using recycled PET plastic and virgin plastic for binding. The panels, with a felt-like texture, undergo a process of chipping, melting, and binding for effective sound absorption. Available in various sizes and colors, they offer both functionality and minimalistic design.

Designer: Mogu

Mycelium, nature’s hidden strength, finds diverse applications from cooking to construction. Italy-based Mogu’s Foresta System ingeniously combines mycelium with upcycled textiles to create modular acoustic panels, perfect for home building and furnishing. These panels easily attach to a timber frame, featuring integrated magnets for effortless assembly and disassembly. Foresta’s innovative use of mycelium earned it the 2022 German Design Award for its eco-conscious and circular design, highlighting Mogu’s dedication to sustainability.

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Introducing An Acoustical Material That Can Be Used Even For Outdoor Events

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In the dynamic world of sustainable design, Jonas Edvard stands out with his innovative approach to integrating organic materials into functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. His latest creation, the Myx Sail / Floor, unveiled at the Mindcraft Project 2023, is a sound-absorbing panel that showcases the remarkable properties of mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow. This 1m x 1m panel not only exemplifies the structural possibilities of composite biomaterials but also represents Edvard’s commitment to responsible design practices.

Designer: Jonas Edvard

The Myx Sail / Floor project is a testament to Jonas Edvard’s dedication to exploring the symbiotic relationship between design choices and their impact on nature. Collaborating with a living material – mushroom mycelium – throughout the design and production process, Edvard creates a flexible room divider within a pre-designed mold. As the mycelium gradually grows and bonds with a plant fiber mixture, the panel takes shape, marrying flexibility with rigidity.

The designer draws inspiration from the natural role of mushrooms as recycling agents, breaking down plant matter into soil. His design philosophy revolves around a deep respect for nature, evident in his exploration of the intricate relationship between raw materials and human life. The Myx Sail / Floor prototype serves as a modular design that aims to emphasize how organic materials like mycelium can seamlessly integrate into our living and working spaces.

Jonas Edvard’s broader research study, conducted in collaboration with Arup Engineers in Germany, delves into the sound-absorbing qualities of mycelium. The panels are meticulously designed to absorb frequencies between 200 and 2500 Hz – the standard range of human conversation and interaction (same as glass wool). Edvard envisions the potential for natural, organic materials to become integral components of our buildings and interior architecture, contributing to a more sustainable life cycle.

The design philosophy revolves around responsible design choices and their impact on nature. His open-minded approach to design leads to experiments that yield new materials and objects from local or organic sources, often embracing a circular and sustainable ethos. In his testing phase, Edvard explores various material combinations to understand the design, appearance, and functionality of mycelium-based sound-absorbing material.

The Myx Sail / Floor sound-absorbing panel invites people to touch and feel the natural qualities of mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow. Edvard aims to create an immersive experience, allowing individuals to sense the porous, lightweight, and stiff characteristics of the materials. By reshaping these materials into functional forms, he hopes to spark conversations about the value and aesthetics of natural origins, encouraging a new understanding of how these materials can be incorporated into our homes and living areas. Now the acoustic installation won’t just be on the walls and ceilings conventionally, but the floors too!

The Myx Sail / Floor is more than just a sound-absorbing panel – it is a tangible embodiment of sustainable design principles and a testament to the possibilities that arise when designers collaborate with nature. As Edvard continues to push the boundaries of material innovation, his work inspires the integration of organic, natural materials into our built environment, fostering a harmonious relationship between design and the natural world.

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A Sustainable Lighting Solution That Redefines The Interaction Between Light And Sound

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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and design, the fusion of functionality and artistic expression continues to yield groundbreaking innovations. One such marvel is Oloïd, a sustainable acoustic luminaire born from the collaborative synergy of Impact Acoustic; a provider of sustainable acoustic solutions, and the esteemed design studio atelier oï. This unique lighting fixture not only delivers exceptional sound absorption but also redefines the way light and sound interact, creating a transformative experience that enhances the ambiance of any space.

Designer: Impact Acoustic,  Atelier oï

At the heart of Oloïd’s revolutionary design lies Archisonic Felt, a high-performance sustainable acoustic absorber crafted from upcycled PET bottles. This versatile material demonstrates outstanding sound absorption capabilities and embodies a commitment to sustainability and responsible material sourcing. The Cradle to Cradle certification and LEED accreditation of Archisonic Felt underscore its eco-friendly credentials, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally conscious design solutions.

Oloïd distinguishes itself by offering a transformative lighting experience that seamlessly integrates functionality with artistic expression. The collaboration between Impact Acoustic and Atelier oï is not merely about illuminating a space but about creating an immersive environment where light and sound harmonize effortlessly.

Aurel Aebi, a key figure at Atelier oï, highlights the creative process that brought Oloïd to life. “At atelier oï, we often begin our creative process with an encounter with the material,” Aebi explains. “Our goal was to find a way to make the sustainable material speak in a new way.” This innovative approach involved working with the material’s stiffness and flatness to create organic shapes that redefine conventional luminaire design.

Oloïd is available in a stunning array of 32 colors, presenting a curated selection from the Archisonic Felt range. This diversity empowers users to personalize their spaces, allowing for the creation of bespoke environments that reflect individual tastes and preferences. The luminaire’s design seamlessly integrates the organic shapes derived from the unique qualities of Archisonic Felt, transcending two-dimensional panels into captivating three-dimensional entities.

Sven Erni, co-founder of Impact Acoustic, expresses his fascination with the collaborative process that transformed their material. “The collaboration fascinated us as we witnessed the metamorphosis of our material,” Erni notes. “This was made possible using a distinctive cutting technique at specific angles and the skillful folding of the panels. This creative approach seamlessly transformed the two-dimensional panels into fascinating three-dimensional entities, transcending surfaces to tangible bodies.”

Oloïd not only sets a new standard for sound-absorbing luminaires but also stands as a testament to the potential of sustainable design in reshaping our surroundings. With its commitment to responsible material usage, innovative design, and the seamless integration of light and sound, Oloïd emerges as a beacon of eco-conscious creativity, inviting us to reimagine the possibilities of our illuminated spaces.

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This Single-Person Acoustic Pod Offers Solo Workspaces In Modern Offices

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Honestly, in time I’ve really come to love office pods or work booths. Office pods have gotten supremely popular ever since COVID-19 hit, not only do they create little isolated spaces to work in, but they also provide a whole other level of privacy, that would have been otherwise unimaginable and completely unattainable in a commercial office. There are quite a few versatile options on the market when it comes to office pods, and a pretty neat one I recently came across is the Phone Booth Acoustic Pod.

Designer: Room

Acoustic pods have become a pretty common sight in corporate offices these days, and I hope this initiative is here to stay. Workplace furniture brand Room recently made an addition to the arena of acoustic pods in the form of the Phone Booth Pod. The Phone Booth is a single-person acoustic pod that offers solo workspaces in open-plan offices. The Phone Booth is the first product designed in Room’s catalog and it features three sound-dampening material layers that reduce noise by 30 decibels, to create a quiet and peaceful work environment.

The Phone Booth is clad in sound-blocking MDF and lined with a sound-absorbing PET which is created from recycled plastic bottles. These features in addition to 100 percent natural wool finishes help to control the noise levels and form a soothing workspace. A LED light has been mounted in the ceiling, alongside two super quiet fans to maintain a clean air level inside the booth. The light and the fans can be controlled and operated via a smart sensor.

The Phone Booth acoustic pod is available in two colorway options – light and dark, both of which are accentuated with oak accents. The acoustic pod is delivered in a flat-packed form and can be assembled within an hour by two people with the help of only one tool. The acoustic booth can also be easily moved between locations with ease once it has been assembled. The Phone Booth acoustic pod would make an excellent and functional addition to modern workspaces, providing employees with solo work booths where they can enjoy some peace and quiet without being disturbed.

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These Acoustic Cabins Are Designed To Be ‘Islands of Privacy’ In Modern Offices

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Honestly, in time I’ve really come to love office pods or work booths. Office pods have gotten supremely popular ever since COVID-19 hit, not only do they create little isolated spaces to work in, but they also provide a whole other level of privacy, that would have been otherwise unimaginable and completely unattainable in a commercial office. There are quite a few versatile options on the market when it comes to office pods, and a pretty neat one I recently came across is the Qyos acoustic cabin by Actiu.

Designer: Actiu

Spanish office furniture brand Acitu recently designed its first acoustic meeting pod called Qyos. Qyos was launched to create “islands of privacy”. Qyos is a range of modular and sound-insulated cabins that were created by Actiu’s research and development team. The cabins are ideal for calls or tasks that need your complete focus and attention. The acoustic pods are an excellent option to escape when you need to get some work done on priority without the entire office bothering you.

“The booth can be a counterpoint solution to the overuse of meeting rooms and a strategic tool to organize space and encourage the optimal movement of people,” said Actiu. “Like the Greek island of Chios, Actiu’s booth is presented as a place of calm and refuge for a few minutes of the intensive and collaborative day-to-day.”

The Qyos cabins have been designed to be easily and effortlessly assembled. The cladding can be swiftly clipped on or off without the need for tools. The door of the acoustic pod can be oriented to either side, which allows it to adapt to any space it is placed into. The size of the cabin is compact, optimizing it for efficient and easy transportation. The Qyos cabin is built using recycled PET plastic, acoustic glass, steel, and extruded aluminum.

The cabins are available in varied finishes such as epoxy, textile, and melamine finishes in myriad combinations. Qyos also utilizes low-consumption LED lighting, and an air renewal system to offer maximum comfort to the user. Optional accessories such as high or low tables, screen hangings, stools, and soft seating are available as well.

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These acoustic columns are designed to be decorative and sound-absorbing

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If your ears are particular to the way sound flows in a room, then you’re probably not always so comfortable in spaces where acoustics aren’t really well thought about by the architects and designers. For regular office spaces, this isn’t really a priority but having pleasant acoustics can add to the productivity of employees. It should be a balance between not being too soundproof and also not being too noisy. This new eco-friendly product is an option for those who are looking for a multi-purpose accessory they can add to the space that can provide acoustics and even other things.

Designer: Narbutas

The Parthos is an acoustic column that was designed to be part of the decoration of your space and at the same time providing you with better acoustics. It is able to muffle high, medium, and low frequency sounds to give you a more pleasant and relaxing aural environment. The columns are made of textile offcuts that have are good sound-absorbing materials and covered with PET felt that is able to enhance that. The patterns for the columns are also able to disperse some of the sound waves.

There are four variants of the Parthos that you can choose from. There’s just the plain acoustic column that just performs its main purpose. It’s available in three different heights that you can mix and max. There’s also the version that has space for potted plants in case you also wan it to be decorative. You can also add hooks for the other variant so you can use it for hanging coats, handbags, and other accessories you may need to hang. There’s also a version that has a power socket so you can charge your smart devices as needed.

The materials used are sustainable as they used upholstery cutoffs that are left over from other manufacturing projects instead of new foam. The PET felt is 50% off recycled plastic. The acoustic columns are also pretty easy to disassemble and recycle when it reaches its end of life. The available colors are muted but that should fit right in with most office environments.

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Sound-based liquid printing could lead to new designer drugs

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Liquid printing is virtually ubiquitous thanks to inkjets, but the materials can only be so sluggish before it stops working. What if you wanted to print a biological material, or even liquid metal? That might happen soon. Harvard researchers have de...