i+D - September/October 2021 - 49

The case-and countless
options-for attractive
acoustic comfort
Ask a dozen people what the definition of perfect acoustics is,
and you'll get a dozen different answers. For some, it might
be a concert hall where each instrument in a full orchestra is
perfectly balanced. It might be an office where sounds are
as muffled and subdued as a library. It might be a hotel lobby
where the bustle and chatter make for an energetic and lively
space. For still others, it might even be the tranquility of a
meadow on a sunny afternoon.
" There is a misconception that it should always be quiet, but
that's not always the case, " says interior designer Carolyn
Ames Noble, founder of Ames Design Collective and a design
collaborator with Turf Design, a provider of acoustic solutions.
" If you're trying to create a space where perhaps someone
is hyposensitive, they may want some stimulation. Or maybe a
space is more collaborative or connective, and that won't need
the same acoustic comfort as, say, a private conference room
may need. " Noble also points out that when designing for
neurodiversity, acoustics plays an even more important role,
enhancing the comfort and experience for all users.
She adds, " Spaces should sound as good as they look. And
often, good acoustics go unnoticed, whereas bad acoustics
are obvious from the moment one sets foot inside a space. "
Increasingly, acoustics are becoming a bigger part of the
conversation in architecture and interior design, as essential as
indoor air quality, proper lighting, and comfortable furnishings.
The biggest opportunity to address acoustics is before a
project is even built, notes Bill Devin, business unit manager
for Impact Sound Control at Regupol. In the architectural plans
and construction phase, acoustic engineers can be consulted
to ensure that the building is constructed with enough weight
and mass to stop airborne noise, and that interior walls,
doors, windows, and the floor/ceiling assembly will all do their
part to halt outside noise such as traffic or trains, as well as
sound that may travel between interior walls. The structure of
walls and the floor/ceiling assembly can also be designed to
decouple vibrational energy.
" We work with architects to develop these systems, " says
Devin. " To change it later, the cost [to rip out ceilings, drywall,
or flooring] can be five times more than if they had done it right
the first time in the design and construction phase. "
But for interior designers, there is a growing number of
products that can be used in both residential and commercial
applications to improve acoustics in a finished space. Once
institutional-looking at worst and unobtrusive at best, many
of these products now boast beautiful design, endless
customization options, and stunningly innovative features that
can make them conversation pieces in and of themselves...
and, of course, that conversation will be crystal-clear, thanks
to their acoustical properties.
The executives and designers at Turf are strong believers
in parametric design. " We exist in that space where no piece
of architecture is actually identical to another, " says Dustin
Headley, director of product development at Turf Design. " We
treat every space, every installation, and every element as a
unique item or object. It's mass customization on an elemental
scale. " To this end, the company specializes in products that
respond to the " envelope " of a space, creating installations that
have custom depths, lengths, and thicknesses. " This gives us
full command over the acoustic design, " notes Headley.
It's also led to some interesting projects, ranging from the
company's Swell ceiling tile dramatically installed over a dining
area in a high-end home to Chicago Michelin-starred restaurant
Ever, where dark acoustic baffles deaden the ambient noise
and absorb the sound energy, making for an intimate dining
experience and heightening diners' senses to focus solely on
the food before them.
i+D - September/October 2021
49
i+D - September/October 2021

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