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ELEMENTS EUROPA THE BAROQUE ELLIPSE AND ITS TWISTS AND TURNS 67
Background noise level “dry” acoustics, taking the reflecting character of most surfaces
Still aiming at enhancing understanding and talking, demarcating it into account: wood floor, sheet metal and glass
requirements were imposed for the ventilation system in order ceiling, glazed facades of the lantern and its glazed and external
to limit background noise in the halls. Wall acoustic absorption facades. The quiet atmosphere in the atrium results from a particu-
also causes a reduction in the transmission of “parasite” noise larly efficient combination of acoustic diffusion and absorption:
generated by side conversations by assembly attendees. – the convex and oblique shape of the lantern spreads the
sounds emitted close to the ground (occupiers’ voices and step
ATRIUM ACOUSTICS sounds) by reflecting them in all directions as soon as they are
produced, filling the entire volume without any resonance or
As a result of the computerised simulation of reverberation focalisation;
time in the atrium, an emerging “cathedral effect” was expected, – acoustic absorbent wood-pannels on the L-shaped building’s
determined by a long reverberation time (about 5 seconds). facades capture sounds vastly reflected by the other surfaces,
Simplifications inherent to such simulations explain that overtly thanks to their high average absorption index (αSabine = 0.9)
pessimistic forecast. In fact, the atrium provides surprisingly and their developed surface exceeding 1,000 m².
Sound absorption curves of the vertical walls.
Sound absorption curves of the different finishing materials.
Sound reflection with sloping (left) and vertical (right) windows.
