A one solution fits all policy seldom works at the best of times and in the case of the newly built Devonport Library not at all.
Athfield Architects identified several acoustic issues within the build, some caused by the intended usage and others caused by the construction of the building itself.
The architects designed a dramatic undulating ceiling based upon a stylised tree that sweeps up the walls and over the children’s area. Filling in the spaces between these fluid wooden forms are Asona’s 50 mm Baffle Beams in white Sonatex interspersed with the occasional 75 mm Baffle Beam wrapped in a bold Puutharhurrin Parhaat fabric.
Some 421 baffles were installed to control the reverberation and squeals of delight from the young library users. Another troublesome area was the ceiling of the mezzanine floor, which because it is under the tin roof of the building, suffers from transmitted noise in heavy down-pours. The solution was to install Asona’s Triton Duo 60 - a dual layer composite class A absorber panel with a high mass attenuator backer.
To add texture to what would otherwise be a plain white ceiling, the Architects selected Asona’s Sonaris P55 (round hole) perforation facing, white on white, fixing the acoustic issue for maximum sound absorption & good attenuation of transmitted noise while still delivering a unique aesthetic.
Asona also installed Fabwall 50 panels wrapped in a charcoal grey Textilla fabric to the main library wall to help control reverberation.
Architects: Athfield Architects Contractor: Naylor Love Manufactured & supplied by: Asona Limited
