Autex Quietspace Workstation acoustic panels were used to create an acoustic ceiling at a newly built house situated on top of a Remuera cliff.
Designed by Malcolm Taylor and his team at Xsite Architects of St. Heliers, Auckland, the contemporary, state-of-the-art home aims for comfort, style and functionality with clear focus on the acoustics.
The living room, kitchen and dining area maintain an open plan design to capitalise on the views, and features wooden floors and large sliding glass doors.
The sleek, functional design with hard surfaces however, impacts the acoustics of the place. A key challenge was to meet the client’s need for a space that could host a decent-sized gathering but also remain comfortable for day-to-day living.
Malcolm decided to use an acoustic ceiling employing the helmholtz principle to solve the problem. Autex Quietspace Workstation acoustic ceiling panels were selected for the application thanks to qualities such as versatility, rigidity and customisability.
To achieve the best aesthetic results, Autex manufactured Quietspace Workstation acoustic panels in custom sizes ranging from 1.6 metres to 5.0 metres in length, ensuring each panel length matched the corresponding section of ceiling.
The acoustic panels were delivered to the site where the ceiling was ‘pre-fabricated’ on a custom made jig. The sections consisted of cedar slats and Quietspace Workstation panels with aluminium brackets all screwed together from the top down into the slats.
Once completed, the ceiling sections were manually lifted and screwed securely into place. The screws were countersunk below the surface and then capped flush with the Workstation panels to conceal the fixings.
The stylish aesthetics of the new acoustic ceiling blend in perfectly with the overall contemporary design of the home. The acoustics of the kitchen and living areas are soft and practical whether the space is being used for relaxation, dinner for two or a gathering of friends and family.
According to Malcolm Taylor, Workstation offered the perfect combination of colour, texture and acoustic absorption while simplifying assembly for the builders.
