Thursday 5 June 2014

Can a large open space feel welcoming and warm? (here's the proof)

Acoustic Design for Interiors exhibition, Friends of Wilson Architectural Acoustic Panels 2014

The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Architecture and Design, is an acoustically challenging space with a large, open atrium scaling 4 floors.

Creating a welcoming space with visual impact and good acoustics in such a large open area is a difficult design challenge.
I knew it could be done, so I took on the challenge:
• To create an impact with a feature wall scaling two floors.
• To install perfectly flush panels on an curved, uneven wall.
• And to avoid compromising the combination of contemporary and 19th century architecture that makes the Lighthouse so special.


This is how we transformed the Lighthouse with the Tessellate panels :




The natural material of Tessellate brings a tactile feel to a large space

Peter Wilkie, a scientist at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, said he was drawn to stand closer to the panels, as it ‘felt good, softer’ than the grey concrete wall.
The Tessellate panels at the Lighthouse created an enjoyable space within a space, giving visual focus to an otherwise disparate area.
The panels also dampen sound to create a warmer environment, as recently proven by the acoustic testing laboratory at Salford University.
This video explains how sound works and why our panels reduce noise :
Measurement of Tessellate panels in a reverberation chamber
The Lighthouse was a challenging project.
But often challenges force us to be creative with surprising results.
What design challenge have you had that brought interesting results?
Get in touch- it would be good to hear from you!
Best wishes,
Lynne
tel : +44 (0)141 334 2859
With thanks to all our 'Friends of Wilson' exhibition supporters :







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