Troldtekt Launches New Acoustic Solution: Baffles Offer Great Flexibility In Design And Installation

The new Troldtekt® baffles present an elegant way to enhance room acoustics while respecting the existing architecture. The slim baffles are suspended vertically from the ceiling – giving the freedom to control the acoustics, visual expression, and even thermal indoor climate. Good acoustics are essential for well-being, focus, and comfortable conversation. Yet, in large spaces, a full acoustic ceiling is not always practical. In these cases, the new Troldtekt baffles provide a refined and flexible alternative.

Troldtekt baffles help create calm, pleasant acoustics in spaces with generous ceiling height – such as open-plan offices, retail spaces, educational buildings, and other areas where design and function must go hand in hand. Their slim, minimalist design in cement-bonded wood wool creates a light, transparent architectural expression that complements a wide range of interiors. "With the new baffles, we offer architects the freedom to design an acoustic solution that is both effective and visually integrated with an existing - or even heritage - ceiling structure", says Cécile Vassort, Head of Product, Marketing & Sustainability at Troldtekt A/S. "At the same time, we’ve made installation simple for contractors and installers through a range of flexible suspension methods – with an eye on using standard off-the-shelf components", she adds.

An effective sound absorber with an aesthetic design Each Troldtekt baffle consists of two 15 mm Troldtekt panels joined to form a slim 30 mm element. Suspended vertically, the baffles absorb sound on both sides, achieving a weighted sound absorption coefficient of up to αw = 0.55 – effectively reducing noise and improving speech clarity. The baffles can supplement existing wall or ceiling absorbers, or act as a stand-alone acoustic solution that maintains partial visibility of ceiling structures and services. As with all Troldtekt products, the baffles are made from certified wood (PEFC/09-31-030 or FSC® C115450) and cement – and produced at the company’s production facilities in Denmark. They are available in the following standard dimensions (30 mm thickness):

>300 × 600 mm

>300 × 1200 mm

>600 × 600 mm

>600 × 1200 mm

Easy to handle – multiple mounting options

Troldtekt baffles are easy to transport, stack, lift, and install – saving time and effort on site. Each baffle includes a visible aluminium top profile for simple, secure installation. The baffles can be mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended by wires, depending on the desired visual effect. "In buildings where materials such as concrete are used for their ability to absorb, store and release heat to reduce temperature fluctuations and reduce energy cost, acoustic ceilings cannot be used. Baffles are a great solution to create good acoustics while allowing airflow between the room and the exposed soffit, explains Cécile Vassort. She continues: "by adjusting the number, orientation, and suspension method, it is possible to find the right balance between acoustic comfort, airflow and design. We believe this solution will resonate with developers, architects, and contractors alike". www.troldtekt.co.uk

New Urban Oasis Created At The Natural History Museum

The previously underused 5-acre gardens around the Natural History Museum in London have been remarkably transformed in a scheme by architects Feilden Fowles. Working closely with landscape  architects J & L Gibbons, and a design team including Gitta Gschwendtner, engineers HRW and Max  Fordham, a new urban oasis has been created alongside a Nature Activity Centre supported by AWS  and Garden Kitchen café.

The project rejuvenates the grounds of this well-loved museum and creates  an immersive timeline of the evolution of the earth which is now fully accessible for the first time.  Geological eras are represented in banded strata of rock and the garden now features a full-size  bronze Diplodocus called Fern. The result is a tactile living laboratory called the Urban Nature Project.  

The Nature Activity Centre and Garden Kitchen blend in harmony with the green space and have  been designed in close association with the museum’s scientists with thought and care, using natural  materials with low embodied carbon. The frame is created from UK limestone under a Douglas fir roof  with cedar shingles. Douglas fir doors, windows and columns adorn the inside. Working with acoustic  consultants Max Fordham, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels have been utilised through the  ceilings to help combat reverberating sound and create a calm and welcoming atmosphere.  

Troldtekt’s wood wool acoustic panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold level and manufactured  using wood from certified forests (PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC®C115450), positively contributing to a  building’s BREEAM, WELL or LEED points. Panels can also be manufactured with FUTURECEM®  which achieves an approx. 30 per cent lower carbon footprint than that of Troldtekt based on white  cement. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as  B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.  

Available in a wide variety of different structures and colours, they combine optimal sound absorption  with an award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 60 years  coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards. Panels can be  supplied as natural wood, unpainted based on FUTURECEM™ offering a reduced carbon footprint or  finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour.   

Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from www.troldtekt.co.uk or see our  product listings on NBS (https://bit.ly/3vxoTfq) or Material Bank (www.materialbank.eu). 

The Natural And Technological Unite At The NQCC

The new £33m National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, is a landmark laboratory created to drive quantum technologies for the future. Not only is the facility state-of-the-art in terms of technology but also in design. Rated BREEAM Excellent, architects Hawkins\Brown has conceived a dynamic and versatile work environment designed to deliver transformative results.

At the building’s heart are non-laboratory spaces full of open-plan areas for collaborative working, interaction and innovation. These are centred around a high linear atrium and link off to adjacent laboratories and the 12 quantum computers. At every stage of the design and specification, careful thought and diligence was given to the choice of materials, ensuring that the building uses products which minimise its carbon footprint, harness natural energy and provide a calm and inviting space for its users. To control sound reverberation from the open areas and hard surfaces,

Troldtekt’s wood wool acoustic panels were specified as floating clouds above the open break-out spaces and within the meeting rooms. These effectively maintain acoustic levels, leading to a more productive environment and promoting a healthy indoor climate. Troldtekt’s wood wool acoustic panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold level and manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC®C115450), positively contributing to a building’s BREEAM, WELL or LEED points. Panels can also be manufactured with FUTURECEM® which achieves an approx. 30 per cent lower carbon footprint than that of Troldtekt based on white cement.

Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively. Available in a wide variety of different structures and colours, they combine optimal sound absorption with an award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 50 years coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards. Panels can be supplied as natural wood, unpainted based on FUTURECEM™ offering a reduced carbon footprint or finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour. Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from www.troldtekt.co.uk or see Troldtekt's product listings on NBS (https://bit.ly/3vxoTfq) or Material Bank (www.materialbank.eu).