Our Indian office acoustics specialist, Manit Ramaiya has interviewed experienced architect Zainab Mukadam Baig from leading architectural and interior design firm Concept Architectural Services. Not too unexpected, she explains that there are quite some cultural differences when comparing Indian offices with western counterparts, but did you also know that Indian architects face challenges like lack […]
Offices
High tech research facility can still require simple acoustic solutions
On the plains of southern Sweden, a futuristic building reminiscent of a spaceship sets the tone for the landscape. This is MAX IV, currently one of the most talked about research facilities, not just in Sweden, but internationally as well. This is where Sweden will be offering researchers and companies the best source of x-rays […]
Sound matters at work – New podcast episode
Good acoustics matters at work A good acoustic environment helps us concentrate, reduces stress and improves wellbeing, which in turn has a positive impact on the bottom line. In the latest episode of Ecophon UK and Ireland’s Podcast “A Sound Effect on People”, presenter Salma Cranefield is joined by Ecophon UK&I concept developer Paige Hodsman […]
The (VERY) high cost of noise
FIGURES FROM FRANCE TO MAKE YOU DIZZY A study published last June by the French Agency Against Noise (Conseil National du Bruit) and the French Environment Agency (ADEME) tried, for the first time, to estimate the total cost of noise pollution in France. The result? 57.2 billion euros in social costs. And this figure […]
Body language and psychoacoustic @ EFMC 2016
European Facility Management Conference, Milano 2016 Had the pleasure presenting about “Planning for Psychoacoustic – how to resolve office noise distraction” together with Nigel Oseland at EFMC 2016 in Milano last week. “Enhancing the People and Business” was the theme of the conference- which our method presented is just in line with. Our DARE principal in combination with […]
Busting the most common myths about room acoustics!
Acoustics is more often considered a niche subject than the other physical aspects of interior comfort. Maybe this is why assumptions and preconseptions guide the way in which people tend to deal with the sound quality of the interior environment. In India where I’m from, I’m frequently confronted by several presumptions or myths when I meet specifiers and the users of interior spaces. In […]
Study: less cognitive stress in open-plan offices with good acoustics
Saint- Gobain Ecophon and the Stress Research Institute in Stockholm conducted a unique study in a real-life office environment to examine how sound affects people in open plan offices. The aim was to see how the ceiling’s properties affect workers’ health, productivity and the perceived disturbance. And the result was clear – a better sound […]
The epic journey of activity based working
“Time and again, people fail to put enough effort into getting the acoustics right. Acoustics affect our behaviour and our productivity. The office design and the IT are the enablers.” Louis Lhoest – Veldhoen+Company Activity based working is more than desk sharing Activity based working (sometimes referred to as ABW) is frequently mentioned in […]
BBC discussed office noise and productivity
(And why working from home might not be the solution) Those of us working with building acoustics all have our own horror stories of projects that didn’t prioritise the sound environment and only afterwards realised that the space isn’t fit for purpose. So it’s great when mainstream media such as the Guardian and New Yorker, dedicates space and […]
Sundbyberg Study, Acoustic measurement reports + Publication
These are the measurement reports on the Sundbyberg study, a cross -over study in an open plan. Sundbyberg_Evaluation of room acoustic parameters in open plan offices ISO 3382-3_141128 Sundbyberg_Measurements of sound pressure level in open plan offices The link to the published paper you will find here.
