In May 2023, it was again time for EIAS, Ecophon International Acoustics Seminar. We were utterly proud to once more host an event, focusing on development in room acoustics AND sharing a great time with some of the brightest minds within the field of acoustics. A bit more than 200 guests and 25 speakers from […]
Healthcare
Hungary’s Journey Towards Standardization in Room Acoustics: An Interview with Csaba Huszty
Standardization in Room Acoustics Room acoustics and electroacoustic systems are critical components of building design that can impact the quality of sound and speech intelligibility in various environments, from concert halls to classrooms and offices. In Hungary, the journey towards standardization in this area began over a century ago, but it wasn’t until 2020 that […]
Office noise increases stress hormone levels in blood plasma
Why this study? Valtteri Hongisto stated that there are no previous studies which have investigated the effects of office noise on the stress hormone levels (concentrations in the body) using the most precise and real-time method: i.e. blood sampling. Also a questionnaire was used to evaluate the effect. 100 person participated in the study and […]
LEED-ing the way in hospital acoustics
Growing up with parents that are also doctors, Pooja Ganatra – a sustainability and acoustic consultant for Buro Happold – spent much of her youth in hospitals. During this time, she witnessed the challenges poor acoustics imposed on patients and hospital workers first-hand. This inspired her to conduct research on this important subject, which she […]
Exploring the Design Preferences of Neurodivergent Populations for Quiet Spaces
At EIAS 2023 we were lucky to be joined by Toar Sadia, Senior Inclusive Design Consultant at Buro Happold. Toar gave an interesting and insightful talk on the importance of the design of quiet spaces. And the views and preferences of neurodivergent populations for design aspects of the space. Neurodivergent populations A quiet space (sometimes […]
The Influence of Acoustics on People featuring Neurodisorders
Dr Marco Caniato – Free University of Bozen in Italy presented this paper at EIAS2023. The influence of acoustics on people featuring neurodisorders. State-of-the-art and new perspectives As recently by the World Health Organisation, the percentage of people in the world suffering from neurodisorders, neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental disorder (as referred and described in the Diagnostic […]
Listening tests: linking objective room acoustic parameters with subjective human perception
Daniel de la Prida from Carlos III University in Madrid presented about his study into listening tests. He focussed on tests that can be used for linking objective room acoustic parameters with subjective human perception. Such tests have been in use for many years. However, different research usually employs different test protocols, with different operational […]
Despite meeting the regulations, satisfying sound environments are not achieved in Danish hospitals
A “must-hear” presentation on satisfying sound environments for all legislators, architects, acoustics engineers, builders and hospital staff. This is how we would describe the presentation entitled “A holistic assessment of sound environment in hospitals” by Hannah C. W. Jakobsen (Ramboll Denmark) during the Ecophon International Acoustics Seminar 2023. Satisfying sound environments The presentation summarized a […]
Sensory design for age and dementia-friendly environments
‘Show of hands, who believes buildings can make you sick?’ ‘Show of hands, who believes buildings can make you feel better?’ At EIAS 2023 Laura Arpiainen (M.Arch. Professor, Health and Wellbeing Architecture at Aalto University, Finland) spoke about sensory design, focusing on age and dementia friendly environments. When thinking about buildings for healthcare, the first […]
Shaping Vibrant Experiences: A Fresh Perspective on Healthcare Design from EIAS 2023
As the sun painted a warm glow over the dunes, streaming into the conference hall on the first afternoon at the 2023 Ecophon International Acoustic Seminar (EIAS), Alessandro Caruso stepped onto the stage, bringing a captivating vibe and challenging us to rethink the role of design in shaping the emotional landscapes of healthcare environments. Caruso […]
