Sound is fundamentally important for our health and well-being.
Optimised room acoustics mean reduced noise, which can reduce stress. Good acoustics also aid communication, collaboration, inclusivity, speech privacy and productivity.
Outdoor noise and ambient sound
Noise has a negative effect on the state of mind and health. Noise does not only refer to outside noise, but also to the dense background noise in rooms – the ambient sound. People in the northern hemisphere spend on average 90% of their lives in rooms. So interiors are where noise pollution occurs, and where noise can be effectively reduced.
How does noise stress arise?
Noise stress is essentially caused by reverberation and reduced speech intelligibility. The listener has to sort through a variety of different sounds and sound sources to perceive the message intended for him or her. People are exposed to this challenge almost everywhere: in the station concourse or airport terminal, in shopping centres, in open-plan offices, in meeting rooms, restaurants or bars. Even at home, the reverberation can make it difficult to understand in good cases – and in bad cases it has an effect on health, both at home and in the office.
Noise affects the taste of food
A study by the University of Manchester (published in Food Quality and Preference) showed that background noise affects both the intensity of flavour and the perceived crunchiness of foods.
"In order to arrive at health and wellbeing in architecture, we find that you have to manage the acoustics." Scott Pfeiffer FASA, Partner at Threshold Acoustics
The consequences of noise hearing loss
The connection between acoustics and our health has been investigated and confirmed several times. The studies describe symptoms caused by noise pollution. Noise-induced hearing loss has been the most common recognised occupational disease in Europe for several years. Not only does it cause millions of jobs to be lost to the economy, but it also reduces the quality of life of every single person. The consequences of noise pollution can range from discomfort and declining productivity to clearly manifested disease patterns”.
"Noise disturbance affects conversations and leads to a number of other personal and behavioural disabilities. Lack of concentration, fatigue, insecurity, low self-confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, reduced ability to work, relationship problems other stress factors were identified." A.A. Lazarus Psychologist
Spatial harmony
Spatial harmony is created by reducing the sound sources. Since every surface reflects sound, every surface is a sound source. Soft surfaces reduce the sound reflectors but, depending on the room, do not eliminate this measure. The intention to optimise a room through interior design does not meet the requirements of a building and denies the artistic architecture its practical suitability.
The architect’s idea is carried forward by seamless acoustic solutions whose shape and colour can be adapted to walls and ceilings as required. The jointless installation with the low installation height results in a discreet installation, which does not differ optically from a white plaster ceiling, if this is your specification.
For the eyes almost nothing changes – for the ears almost everything. The sound sources are reduced to such an extent that the result can be felt at every position in the room: noise is reduced and voices and sounds in the room gain in profile”.