Acoustic comfort and its importance for wellness — biofilico wellness interiors
Acoustic comfort and acoustic discomfort are increasingly important topics among architects and interior designers due to their roles in boosting productivity and reducing low levels of anxiety for regular users of an indoor environment, be it an office or home.
Why is it so important?
Well, for the beginning of our written journey to acknowledge acoustic as one of the most important factors to relieve pain such as headache, lack of concentration or annoyance - let’s focus on how acoustic comfort in buildings has been finally linked to humans, and not just the mere isolation process. Exposure to excessive noise can lead to physical and mental health problems such as fatigue, headaches, cardiovascular disease, irritability, anxiety, and stress.
The acoustic was analyzed as a physical factor of the space, such as lighting and temperature.
Acoustics is not only there to offer performative products in terms of sound absorbency, but it’s also there as a tool to study the space, the environment, and finally the habits of people, all in order to provide and guarantee the best indoor comfort - acoustic comfort and wellness!
How to improve our acoustic comfort
Investing in an indoor acoustic comfort concept, we put the wholesome wellbeing and occupant comfort in the focus! By addressing the absolute necessity of the inclusion of acoustic wellness among the priorities of each building project, we can create interesting acoustic themes and build new solutions for the future indoor scenery. Emphasizing occupant comfort is crucial for physical and mental wellbeing, as it impacts noise levels, sound insulation, and sound absorption.
If we are cold - we recognize it by putting a sweater on. if the sun is too strong - we will immediately wear sunglasses, but - what can we do to improve our acoustic comfort?
Sound absorption products
The innovation the studies based on the importance of acoustic comfort for wellness have been recognized in architecture, building and design, with a large choice of different solutions to win the acoustic comfort challenge and make any project, and any place made for human inhabitation, more acoustically healthy and suiting. Sound masking, also known as 'white' or 'pink noise', is used to raise ambient background noise levels within various institutions to improve acoustics, aid concentration, and increase speech privacy levels.
With a wide range of sound absorbers, such as acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting, furniture finishes, and curtains, designed to meet the different needs of various spaces: from offices to restaurants, meeting rooms to hospitals, libraries to airports, and create a space that is friendly, pleasant, open and fluid.
Technical details - colours, shapes and 3D visualisation
Shapes and colours of carpets, floorings or decorative elements also have enhanced acoustic comfort implications. Factors such as structure-borne and airborne noise, sound pressure levels, frequency of the noise, and noise sources all contribute to the acoustical conditions that influence acoustic comfort. Different noise sources with the same physical characteristics can be perceived differently by individuals, making it crucial to consider their specific effects and frequencies on acoustic comfort. Taking the soundscape approach through 3D visualisation to a study acoustic comfort for wellness can identify spaces that need most of the acoustic interventions and improvements.
Made in different colours, finishing and shapes, all the products made to fit into the high acoustic performance are usually installed to reduce volume.
The use of ecological materials to reduce noise pollution
Besides this strong attention to technical details, acoustic wellness philosophy is also about the use of ecological, sustainable, renewable, green materials. Traffic noise significantly impacts acoustic comfort in various spaces, including workplaces and residential buildings.
That’s an important point in the development of new products and projects for the future of the niche such as sustainable interior design. Additionally, optimizing for acoustic comfort often goes hand in hand with improving indoor air quality, ensuring a holistic approach to building design that enhances overall occupant satisfaction.
Tools and materials for sound control to improve acoustic comfort
The right materials already exist, now it is only time to put them in good use and make a completely new culture. These materials also have heat-insulating properties that make them more environmentally friendly
They come in different shapes like panels, rolls, nets, paddings or slabs, with the possibility to be built in or multilayered in any structures such as underfloors or partitions who divide walls.
The livability of acoustic performance determines the quality of life of everyone who uses that space. High standards in sound control are essential for achieving acoustic comfort. Strategies for reducing unwanted noises include using sound-absorbing materials, installing acoustic panels, and implementing noise barriers. The time has come to stop correcting acoustic comfort in buildings “a posteriori”, and cure the damage upon being made, and become acquainted with the process of prevention.
Eco walls
Eco walls can create a colourful and light acoustic barrier for the walls and ceiling, maintaining the concept of freedom in any space, but adding some special feeling of wellness. Poor acoustics in workplace environments can lead to distractions, stress, and interference with team interaction and normal work routines.
They fit harmoniously into spaces of multiple functions, such as offices, homes, hospitals or restaurants, gyms or wherever you need the acoustic comfort. Eco walls help manage background noise levels, improving acoustics and aiding concentration.
Eco walls combine curved surfaces and they have a characteristic style, with the density and porosity of some of the stone materials, with sound-absorbent qualities thus contributing to improving acoustic wellness better than traditional stone panels
These walls allow mixing insulation and the absorption of sound waves which makes them naturally fit for acoustic comfort and wellness.
Panels for enhanced acoustic performance
Panels made of natural and eco-friendly materials are the perfect combination of innovation and flexibility, ecology and sound absorption, with the final goal to improve the acoustic comfort of the workplace and relax spaces by reducing airborne noise. Noise exposure can lead to sleep disturbance in residential spaces, significantly impacting residents' health and well-being.
In need of open space?
Eco-friendly panels become an elegant, modular system, which allows the creation of workstations and separators. The 3D-looking arrangement is pleasant and guarantees high acoustic performance.
If hung from the ceiling, these panels create a nice layout, able to exploit the acoustic performance and modify the refraction of sound waves.
Spaces that have been engineered and designed with the proper acoustics can make a huge difference in people’s daily lives and improve their health and wellness.
Acoustic is something that shouldn’t be ignored!
A bedroom where the noise generated from traffic is cancelled, for example, promotes a night of better sleep and rest. Productivity soars in offices where noise doesn’t interfere. It’s a fact that people escape the rigours of the outside world by spending more time inside, even while working or exercising.
Biofilico can provide a full range of solutions tailored to the unique needs of working spaces and the structural attributes of residences. Through thoughtful examination of a space and its occupants, we create a better health and wellness atmosphere in homes and prestigious commercial environments.