Battles with the Baffles in a London House – Leveraging Biophilic Design Principles to Create Optimal Acoustics

Acoustic baffles to subtly dampen high frequencies and create a uniform sound distribution throughout the room.

Article originally published in the Journal of Biophilic Design - Sound Issue July 2025

Enhancing the sound within a building and cultivating a harmonious acoustic environment has an invisible, yet profoundly impactful element on our comfort and wellbeing. For the owner of this period property, a devoted audiophile, acoustic design was paramount to crafting the ideal living and listening space. The primary goal was to replicate the immersive experience of a live musical performance, demanding acoustic clarity and quality across various frequencies and volumes – a standard typically found only in spaces specifically designed for performance and critical listening. 

Obstacles with a Victorian period building

Our challenge was to achieve a minimum of the acoustic objectives for the living room, all while seamlessly integrating considerations of function and aesthetics. As this was the home’s sole sitting room, transforming it into a dedicated listening room was not an option. It needed to remain a versatile space for general enjoyment and to be presentable for hosting guests. 

Achieving the right acoustics, from managing reverberation time to ensuring sound distribution and eliminating first reflection points proved challenging. Every room inherently accentuates or dampens certain frequencies based on its geometry and dimensions. This particular room’s high ceiling, expansive bay window, and period features like the fireplace made balancing acoustics difficult without thoughtful design intervention. Low frequencies, for instance, tend to accumulate in corners, obscuring other frequencies and sounds. With an abundance of sound-trapping corners, this was a primary area of intervention.

Another key issue to address was how parallel and hard surfaces reflect sound unevenly. Low- frequency bass sounds, with fewer vibrations per second than treble, require more mass for effective absorption. Conversely, echoes of high frequencies often occur at the top corners of walls. The owner’s ability to precisely measure all frequencies and their volumetric response using a measurement microphone provided invaluable data, directly guiding our solutions. This meant carefully considering sound propagation, reverberation times across different frequency ranges, and the strategic application of sound absorbing baffels and reducing surfaces. 

This project highlighted how crucial sound is to our overall wellbeing and how it subtly shapes our experience of a space.

A design solution that integrates exceptional acoustics with visual style and grace

Our overarching aim was to subtly dampen high frequencies and create a uniform sound distribution throughout the room. We employed two distinct acoustic treatment approaches. One involved commercially acoustic baffles which can be custom-sized to size to hang from rails or bass traps in the corners. We strategically placed these on the left, along the east-facing wall near the speakers, and on the north-facing wall behind the Hi Fi equipment, opposite the French doors. While functionally effective, this solution needed careful visual integration. Given the room’s asymmetrical rear corner/wall configurations behind the speakers, the owner also adjusted the left/right speaker balance for optimal stereo imaging.

The second approach was entirely bespoke, involving elements we created ourselves. On the right side of the room, behind the main seating area, we integrated felt banners onto the party wall. This served to dampen sound and reduce reflections bouncing back towards the front of the room where the main sound originates. This method effectively blocked out high frequencies that could otherwise muddy the music’s clarity. 

A significant benefit of this bespoke design is the cavity between the felt banners and the party wall, allowing for additional acoustic tuning or tweaking in specific areas without appearing patched or out of place. This approach also incorporates two layers of felt banners, with the second layer strategically positioned in the critical area behind a seated person’s head, appearing as a colourful woven element through the front layer.

Beyond dedicated acoustic treatments, we also utilised broader room elements to optimise the audio experience and overall acoustical comfort. Heavy drapery at the south-facing window serves multiple purposes: it absorbs some sound reflection, minimises sound transmission from outside, and cleverly enhances the decor by concealing the asymmetrical openings of a door and window. 

This project highlighted how crucial sound is to our overall wellbeing and how it subtly shapes our experience of a space. Achieving this level of acoustic purity in a home environment was a fascinating challenge and Symbiotic Living is thrilled with how our biophilic approach harmonised both sound and aesthetics.

Optimising Acoustics in Your Living Space

If you’ve ever wondered how the right acoustic design can transform not just music, but your everyday living experience, this project is a perfect example. From period features to bespoke treatments, we show how thoughtful sound design can elevate both comfort and style.

Contact us today to explore acoustic solutions tailored to your space, where performance, wellbeing, and aesthetics come together seamlessly.