Building a rehearsal space
Building a rehearsal space
The start: Box-in-box principle
The basis of an acoustic room
During the construction of Room52, one goal was central: creating a space in which peace, focus and acoustic comfort completely come together. Therefore, the so-called was chosen box-in-box principle, a construction method used worldwide in professional music studios, podcast rooms, meeting pods and high-end acoustic installations.
The idea behind this technique is simple yet remarkably effective: instead of a single construction, a second, completely decoupled space is built within an existing structure, as it were. This creates a “room within a room”, whereby vibrations, impact sounds and disruptive ambient noise are greatly reduced.
In traditional construction methods, walls, floors and ceilings are connected directly to one another. As a result, sound vibrations can easily travel through the structure. The box-in-box system breaks those connections. The interior space is acoustically isolated from the exterior structure, drastically reducing sound transmission.
Completely detached exterior construction
For Room52, this meant that the floor, walls and ceiling were carefully constructed using multiple layers of materials, each time with a focus on decoupling, mass and absorption. Air gaps and insulation materials were provided between the various structural elements to slow down sound waves and absorb vibrations before they could propagate.
An important advantage of this method is that not only is outside noise blocked, but the sound within the space is also kept controlled. This ensures pleasant acoustics without distracting echoes or reverberation. As a result, an environment is created that is ideal for focused work, meetings, recordings, video calls or creative projects.
The box-in-box principle requires an extremely precise approach. Every connection, screw joint and material choice influences the final result. Therefore, during the construction of Room52, a great deal of attention was paid to details such as floating structures, acoustic decoupling and airtight finishing.
The result is a space that not only looks modern and sleek, but above all feels like an enclosed cocoon of tranquillity. A place where distraction fades into the background and where comfort, quiet and focus are central.
The outdoor playpen
a solid foundation with acoustic decoupling
The outer box of Room52 was constructed according to the principles of traditional timber-frame building. This construction method combines high structural strength with excellent insulating properties, while at the same time offering sufficient load-bearing capacity to also allow the roof surface to be used functionally.
The load-bearing structure consists of timber joists with a cross-section of 38 x 140 mm. This robust construction ensures a stable and durable build that is perfectly suited for an acoustic room. On the outside, the entire structure is finished with 18 mm OSB boards. These boards not only increase the rigidity of the construction, but also contribute to the mass of the outer box, which is essential for sound insulation.
Within the wooden structure, 140 mm of sound-insulating insulation was installed. This thick layer of insulation helps to absorb sound waves and prevents vibrations from easily spreading through the walls. By filling the entire cavity with acoustic insulation, a first important buffer against ambient noise is created.
A crucial part of the box-in-box principle is avoiding direct contact between structural components. Therefore, the wooden beams of the outer structure were completely decoupled from the concrete floor using acoustic rubber. This decoupling significantly reduces the transmission of impact noise and vibrations via the floor. Sound that would normally travel through the structure via rigid connections is thereby strongly dampened before it reaches the room.
Due to this combination of mass, insulation and decoupling, the outer box forms a solid and acoustically performant basis for the entire Room52 construction.
The mass-spring-mass principle for maximum sound insulation
The inner box
fully decoupled for optimum acoustic performance
Inside the exterior structure, a second, completely independent room was built. This inner box forms the heart of the box-in-box principle and plays a crucial role in the sound insulation of Room52.
The internal structure was completely decoupled from the outer structure. An air cavity of approximately 5 cm was provided between the two structures. This free space prevents vibrations from being transmitted directly from the outer box to the inner box. This physical separation significantly reduces sound transmission and makes optimal use of the mass-spring-mass principle.
For the construction of the inner box, a timber frame structure with 38 x 89 mm studs was chosen. The entire structure was filled with 90 mm acoustic insulation. This insulation layer absorbs sound waves that penetrate the outer structure and prevents resonances within the structure itself.
Sufficient mass as the primary buffer
Floor construction
floating construction for minimal noise transmission
The floor of Room52 was also designed according to the principles of acoustic decoupling. Because impact sounds and vibrations travel very easily through floors, a floating floor construction was chosen that is completely separated from both the concrete subfloor and the surrounding walls.
The base of the floor consists of timber joists that were placed directly onto the concrete floor. However, a special acoustic strip was applied between these joists and the concrete. This elastic layer prevents vibrations from being transmitted directly from the concrete slab to the floor construction and forms an important link within the box-in-box principle.
Furthermore, the wooden battens do not make direct contact with the walls of the structure anywhere. This prevents sound vibrations from finding their way to other parts of the room via so-called acoustic bridges. As a result, the entire floor remains acoustically decoupled from the rest of the structure.
Acoustic insulation of the floor surface
Ventilation
Ventilation: fresh air without compromising on sound insulation
A well-insulated room must not only be quiet, but also adequately ventilated. That is why Room52 was equipped with a ventilation system that continuously supplies fresh air and extracts used air, without reducing the acoustic performance of the room.
The system works according to a simple yet effective principle. On one side of the room is located a active mechanical ventilation, while on the opposite side a passive supply of fresh air is provided. In that way, a natural airflow is created throughout the entire space, preserving air quality without troublesome draughts.
However, a ventilation opening also forms a potential pathway for sound. Therefore, a great deal of attention was paid to the acoustic design of the ventilation system.
Flexible plastic ventilation duct
Doors
double acoustic barrier
A door is often the weakest link in an acoustic room. Therefore, Room52 opted for a double-door system which fits completely with the box-in-box principle and the high demands in terms of sound insulation.
Instead of a single door, the entrance consists of two separate doors. Each door is mounted in its own structure: the outer door is located in the outer box, while the inner door forms part of the fully decoupled inner box. As a result, there is no direct connection between the two structures, which significantly limits the transmission of vibrations and sound.
Both doors were chosen heavy solid-core acoustic doors. Thanks to their high mass, they offer much better sound insulation than standard internal doors. After all, a simple rule applies within acoustics: the greater the mass, the harder it is for sound vibrations to make the structure vibrate.
