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| Sensing Spaces exhibition, Royal Academy, London 7 February 2014 |
When was
the last time you stood inside a building and felt a sense of awe?
Overwhelmed by the design, scale and atmosphere of the place?
Overwhelmed by the design, scale and atmosphere of the place?
Exceptional
buildings create a sense of drama that transcends their practical function, and
has a powerful effect on our emotions.
I felt
this during the Xmas eve carol service in Edinburgh Cathedral. Although I’m not
religious, the beautiful architecture and endless reverberations of the choir’s
voices created a sound of ethereal beauty and a genuinely moving
experience.
We
often don’t remember the details of how a place looked or sounded, but we
remember how it made us feel.
At
their best, buildings allow us a sense of perspective, and a way to reflect and
identify with something bigger than ourselves, whether spiritual or physical.
But who
wants to deal with this kind of high drama on a day to day basis, in the
‘normal’ places of offices, home and restaurants where we spend most of our
time?
The
acoustics of the interiors in which we work, rest and play need to be
appropriate to the practical function of the space.
During
a conference call at work, you’re not seeking a sublime moment, just to be
heard and understood. Excessive reverberation or noise wears on our nerves and
makes it more difficult to relax, be heard or be productive.
If
the sound and function of a space don’t match, it creates tension.
Or it
just feels wrong.
Recently,
I had dinner in a local restaurant housed in a converted church. It looked
atmospheric and welcoming. We sat cocooned within its gold walls, surrounded by
hand painted murals, soft lighting, candles and warm, solid wood
furniture. But with virtually no fabrics, curtains, rugs or absorbent
panels, the overall feeling was hollow.
The
building’s original architectural acoustics didn’t work for its new function as
a restaurant.
But the
unique look and style of a space doesn't have to be compromised to achieve the
right acoustics.
A
sensitivity to materials and using them wherever possible to absorb sound, is
key to achieving the right reverberation time in a space.
The
ideal reverberation time - the time that sound takes to disappear when it hits
a surface and bounces back - depends on the function of a space:
For a
living room it’s 0.4 seconds
For
an opera house it’s 1.2 seconds
And
for St. Pauls Cathedral it’s 9.2 seconds
A rich
palette of materials and surfaces on furniture and fittings helps you create a
more welcoming feel in, for instance, a hotel reception. Consider adding a
large rug in waiting areas or use upholstered rather
than seating with hard surfaces. Or use curtains rather than blinds
to soften the acoustics.
Combining
good looks with acoustics is what we specialise in at Friends of Wilson. Later
this month we’ll be showcasing our approach with an exciting exhibition at The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture.
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and once housing the Glasgow
Herald newspaper, the Lighthouse’s main artery is a contemporary
multi-leveled atrium defined by huge concrete slab-type walls contrasted with
glacier-like balustrades. The light and shadow, and therefore the mood of the
interior, are unpredictable, determined by the brooding, fast-changing Glasgow
skies.
Deep
within the ravine-like atrium space and scaling two floors, will be a six
and a half metre high installation of our modular panel, Tessellate.
Bold
and dramatic as The Lighthouse, the panels compromise none of the aesthetics of
the space but absorb sound reflections from the surrounding hard materials to
create a warmer, more welcoming area within the large open space.
New
video footage created in partnership with Salford University acoustic testing
laboratories will be projected, highlighting the benefits of acoustic design
and how it can help create welcoming, well functioning spaces.
Are
you in Glasgow between 28 February and 6 April? Come to experience this unique exhibition –
we’d love to see you and hear what you think!
