Deployable sound-absorbing unit for open-plan offices

Master thesis (2017)

Authors

I. Christia Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

M. Bilow (supervisor 1)
F. Setaki (supervisor 2)
M.J. Tenpierik (coach)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2017 Ioanna Christia
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Published Date

04-07-2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

In this industrialized world, technology has invaded our life in such a level where behind every product a complex manufacturing process with high transportation costs being hidden. Designing a product itself is not enough anymore; the whole manufacturing procedure needs to be included in the design.

Especially when product design meets acoustic engineering, the design should not only fulfil the acoustic and aesthetic qualities but also take into consideration the cost factor. This is translated into the wise use of material, transportation, easy assembly and maintenance. At the same time, the target group is every single person that is called to participate in the assembly procedure, with no expertise knowledge, which adds extra challenge in the design procedure.

Less is more, as Mies van der Rohe stated. This research taking a step back and revaluates the product design principle for acoustic panels. Having as starting point the HELIX panel designed by Panayiotis Hadjisergis and Ioanna Christia, during Bucky Lab course of 2015 fall, the target is to keep the advantages of this panel while improving the acoustic performance and keeping the manufacturing process as simple as possible. The target of Helix panel was to provide a flexible solution regarding acoustics and assembly. The advantages of this project were further developed into the STRAWS project. The acoustic principle used is quarter wavelength tubes and combined to a cheap ordinary product, as straws, a broadband sound absorbing unitized panel is designed.

Until now there are lots of products that are made for acoustic but none of them fullfil so many different design needs. This research proposes an already existing product which by implementing acoustic principles, can be applied in open-plan officess. In this way the acoustic panel will not only be suitable for a wide range of frequencies but also designed in a way that uses little amount of material, without taking up a big space and being able to be re-used in a different environment.