Over 200m2 of the StoSilent Direct acoustic system
from Sto has been installed in the offices of a major architectural practice in
London.
It was specified for a
number of reasons, including its outstanding acoustic performance, ease of
installation and attractive aesthetic appearance.
The Hesselbrand architectural practice is located
in a refurbished warehouse building which it shares with a visual art
installations gallery, and this prompted the need for reliable and effective
acoustic design.
“The building features
brick walls, polished concrete floors and large picture windows,” explains Hesselbrand’s Patrick Morris. “During the
refurbishment project we wanted to create a modern, clean, minimalist,
open-plan working area, and the products in their natural form complimented my
thoughts for the final aesthetic.
"However, they have little or no acoustic value
with regards to attenuation, reverberation and other considerations like foot
traffic and speech clarity, so achieving the overall acoustic design and
balance within our building was a major consideration.”
Having examined a number of different options and
manufacturers, the Hesselbrand practice specified the StoSilent Direct system
for use on its own premises, after discussions on a number of solutions and
budget costs with Mike Wallace, Sto’s Technical Consultant for Acoustics. This
system offers a particularly effective option for this type of project as it
can be applied directly onto walls and ceilings.
“This was an especially important feature
as it allowed the StoSilent Direct system to be applied without the need to
drill the existing ceiling or install a mounting framework which would reduce
the internal dimensions of the space,” adds Patrick.
The system features a porous texture and sandwich
structure which provides excellent sound absorption characteristics, and it is
finished in StoSilent Décor M. This classic fine-stipple finish is
spray-applied and can be tinted to match a wide range of colours, a benefit to
both the installer and main contractor as there is no mixing or tinting on
site.
“Aesthetic considerations were also
extremely important,” adds Patrick. “The original ceiling was in less than
perfect condition and was visually unattractive, so being able to apply the StoSilent
Direct system directly onto it allowed us to cover the original and create a
fresh new appearance.
“The results were a huge success. The acoustic balance
we achieved within the overall environment is very noticeable, making the space
more comfortable to be in. Speech clarity is also improved, so communication
between ourselves and clients is complemented, particularly with face-to-face
and telephone discussions. Overall a much more relaxed atmosphere has
been achieved.”
The StoSilent Direct
system, which in this instance was installed by Sprayskim Ltd, uses composite
mineral fibre boards with a pre-applied, textured surface. These are bonded
directly to the substrate, and their pre-chamfered joints can be left as is or filled,
prior to applying one of the StoSilent textured finishes. Seamless surfaces up
to 700 m² can be created without the need for a break in the system, as well as
raked ceilings down to a radius of 6m.
