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WELLENBRECHER: Shaping the space
Our joint event with Sedus and Gabriel was a complete success. The spectacular backdrop of the IDX22 provided the stage for our event “WELLENBRECHER: Shaping the room” yesterday, Wednesday.
In addition to Gabriel’s great location, our highlight was the Sedus product sneak preview. The furniture will only be officially presented at ORGATEC in Cologne and is already whetting our appetite for more. We from apn® shared our know-how with the participants with presentations by Mirko Bruhn, Hinnerk Brüne and Caroline von Zimmermann on the topics of hearing, sound waves and room acoustics solutions. Delicious snacks and refreshing drinks rounded off the afternoon.
Many thanks to all participants for this afternoon full of exciting insights and inspiring conversations!
OFFICE+OBJECT
The recently published anthology OFFICE+OBJEKT presents 44 outstanding projects for offices and the like. Our planning office apn® concepts projects is also represented with the conversion of the university library of the West Coast University of Applied Sciences. In collaboration with stücker Büroeinrichtungen and Steelcase, we transformed the library into a modern, smart workspace.
“For the West Coast University of Applied Sciences, it was particularly important to us to design the rooms and spaces in such a way that the students are equipped for the new ways of working so that they can successfully enter the world of work. Because this is exactly where our skilled workers of tomorrow learn and grow. For us, one thing is certain: No New Work without New Education,” emphasizes our captain.
The OFFICE+OBJEKT anthology is now available. Here you can see the first impressions of the project.
Acoustics? We do that with movable walls!
The underestimated importance of room acoustics – Part 4
“A few partitions are enough to improve the acoustics.” You often hear this sentence when it comes to optimizing room acoustics. There are numerous suppliers of movable walls on the internet and your trusted office furniture store also has a whole range of them on offer. Partitions can be useful for creating zones and providing visual screening, as visual distractions can also disrupt concentration. But from an acoustic point of view, partitions alone are not enough. This is a very simplistic approach and does not do justice to the complex issue of room acoustics.
Diverse sound sources in the office
There are many sources of noise in an office: Conversations, telephone noises, keyboard clatter and other sounds. In addition, the sound sources move and change as we move around the room and don’t sit still at our desk. For example, we walk over to our colleagues to discuss something. The next moment, a phone call is being made in another corner of the room. Walking routes are sometimes more and sometimes less frequented. Partitions alone cannot fully cover these diverse and dynamic sound sources.
Subjective perception of room acoustics
Above all, room acoustics are one thing: subjective. Hearing is a sense that we cannot switch off; everyone finds sounds and conversations more or less disturbing. What is pleasant for one person may be disturbing for another. Room acoustics are therefore a key factor in well-being and are not just judged purely on the basis of measured values, but are a combination of many factors. If we feel very comfortable in a room, we will behave accordingly. It is therefore important to carry out comprehensive acoustic planning that takes into account the needs of all users.
Influence of room geometry and materials
The room geometry and the materials used also have a major influence on the acoustics in the room. Particularly in modern concrete buildings with hard floors and large window fronts, partition walls alone cannot compensate for the reflective surfaces. In addition, the requirements vary greatly depending on the intended use.
Sound propagation in detail
Let’s take a closer look at sound propagation: sound travels in three dimensions and can bend around obstacles and penetrate through materials. Although partitions can block direct sound between two points, they do not prevent sound from propagating along other paths. In offices, speech is the biggest source of distraction. This is why we focus our attention in room acoustics on the frequency ranges relevant to speech. Speech sound does not propagate linearly, but spherically from the speaker. This means that the sound is reflected first from the ceiling – the largest reflective surface in the room. Speech sound is also reflected from the walls and from reverberant furniture or obstacles. Sound therefore spreads in three dimensions and must therefore also be captured in three dimensions.
Measures to improve the room acoustics
In order to capture the three-dimensional propagation of sound, we need balanced basic damping across the ceiling and walls. Room division measures create acoustic boundaries and zoning. Partitions and table tops are ideal for attenuating sound directly at the workplace. The right height is particularly important here.
In ISO 22955, various measurement set-ups for room acoustic measures were tested and the best results for a balanced acoustic atmosphere were achieved with three-dimensional occupancy. This means: with measures on the ceiling, the wall and the room. It should be noted that this is not about full-surface coverage, but about targeted measures that result in a harmonious mixture of attenuation, diffusivity and shielding. For example, ceiling absorbers and corresponding shielding and zoning elements are installed above the workstation, with additional wall elements at ear height for workstations close to walls. However, over-attenuation should be avoided at all costs. We reported on an illustrative example in Part 2 of this series of articles.
In smaller offices, room partitioning measures play a lesser role, with the ceiling and walls taking center stage. In narrow rooms in particular, wall coverage is extremely important, as otherwise horizontal sound fields create an annoying flutter echo.
Conclusion: Holistic three-dimensional acoustic planning
The topic is complex and must be considered as such for an optimal result. Partition walls alone are too one-dimensional and cannot acoustically optimize the room acoustics in their complexity. Half-hearted planning can therefore lead to expensive revitalization costs. Holistic acoustic planning includes not only movable walls, but also other measures such as ceiling panels, baffles, wall absorbers, special room dividing elements, screening or curtains. These products can help to absorb sound or provide diffusion, creating a more pleasant and productive working environment. It is important to consider the specific requirements and circumstances of each room and develop a customized solution.
Partitions can be part of the solution, but they cannot optimize a room acoustically as a whole, because due to
- Various sound sources
- Room geometry and materials
- Sound propagation
- human perception
…room acoustics require holistic planning.
We are happy to advise you – holistically, comprehensively and three-dimensionally.
New Work needs New Education
New Education and New Work: shaping the future together
The world of work is changing rapidly and the education system must also adapt to this change. “New Education” is the key to fully exploiting the opportunities of hybrid working and learning and forming a strong partnership with “New Work”. Now is the time to actively shape the future of education and work and seize the opportunities of this new era.
Why New Education?
“New Education” goes beyond traditional educational approaches and promotes the development of skills that are essential in the modern working world. These include digital skills, critical thinking and the ability to collaborate in (virtual) teams. These new educational approaches not only support professional development, but also lifelong learning, which is becoming increasingly important in a constantly changing world of work.
The synergy of New Education and New Work
“New Education” and “New Work” are not separate concepts, but complement each other. While “New Education” ensures that learners acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in the new world of work, “New Work” promotes flexible working models and a healthy work-life balance. Together, they create a working and learning environment that is not only efficient, but also sustainable and fulfilling.
Actively shaping the future
It is up to us to actively shape the future of education and work. By integrating the principles of “New Education” and “New Work” into our everyday lives, we can promote a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Let’s seize the opportunities of this new era to create a better, more flexible and inclusive world of work.
Acoustics in existing buildings: an underestimated potential
The underestimated importance of room acoustics – Part 3
“Acoustics in existing buildings? You can forget it!” When it comes to acoustic design in existing buildings, you often hear this provocative statement. In the previous article, we highlighted the enormous benefits of early planning. One might even think that this would support the statement “no acoustic concept can be implemented in existing buildings”. But the opposite is the case: existing spaces in particular offer excellent opportunities for acoustic optimization measures. This is because the topic is already becoming increasingly relevant and will continue to do so in the future.
The relevance of revitalization
When we talk about construction in existing buildings, it’s not just about sustainability and conserving resources when renovating buildings. Rather, the focus is on revitalizing spaces. The aim is to breathe new life into old buildings and transform them into modern, functional working environments. The average useful life of office space today is around three years. This means that constant change is taking place: Restructuring, new land use and innovative design approaches are the order of the day. Which presents us with new challenges.
Holistic planning is required
In this context, good planning is crucial. Early planning should not be equated with “building from scratch”. The main focus is on analyzing and defining usage requirements. The different areas such as space planning, functionality, digitalization, interior design, design and acoustics must flow into one another. Every room has different acoustic requirements due to its geometry and the materials used. These need to be worked out in order to plan flexible acoustic measures that can be integrated into a new space concept even after three years. We can respond to the given room geometry and architectural structure, as we find them in an existing building, and take them into account individually in our planning. Because we, from apn® accept the challenge and want to revolutionize acoustics in existing buildings.
Influence of design on well-being
The design has a considerable influence on user behavior and the well-being of employees. For example, quiet workstations can have a positive influence on the behavior of colleagues through a harmonious, calming design. It is an interplay of subjective perception, well-being and measurable room acoustics. In workshop areas, a lively design can stimulate inspiration and communication. Acoustic measures can also support your individual architectural style, create orientation and help employees to use spaces intuitively.
Conclusion: Acoustic concepts in existing buildings are possible and necessary
It is therefore possible to conceptually implement acoustics in existing buildings. This requires careful planning, know-how and the right choice of suitable materials and elements depending on the room type and usage characteristics. Let’s exploit the potential of existing spaces and transform them into acoustically optimized, modern working environments.
Holistic acoustics in existing buildings:
- Use the architectural structure – the architectural features form the basic structure and do not present any obstacles for an acoustic concept
- Flexible and modular system / adaptability – flexible and modular systems are required
- Acoustics know-how – understanding rooms and planning acoustics holistically and three-dimensionally
- Individuality of space concepts – every room is different: there is no “one fits all” concept, especially in existing buildings
How we make rooms speak
Rooms are more than just physical places – they tell stories.
Every room, every story comes to life through its colors, textures and materials.
They embody the emotions, the experiences and the character that the room radiates.
But what really brings these stories to life?
It is the room acoustics – the invisible element that shapes the atmosphere of a room.
It enables us to immerse ourselves in the story that the room conveys.
It is the connecting element that brings everything together and offers us a holistic experience.
The design of a room goes far beyond what the eye can see.
It’s about creating an experience that appeals to all the senses.
With us at your side as experts in room acoustics, we can work together to design spaces that not only tell stories, but also bring them to life.
Feel free to contact us to find out more.