Assembling all puzzle pieces

Studio, Zürich

1. Introduction

Function: multiple (sleeping, working, cooking, living in general)

Situation: Studio, 13m2, one large window, agitated street in the city centre and therefore a lot of exterior noise.

Reverberation Time: 0.38s

2. Legal standards

Architectural standards: SIA 118

Accoustical standards: SIA 181 – Sound Insulation in Buildings

Key legally regulated acoustical features (SIA 181):

Minimum sound insulation requirements (window, door): R’w + C ≥ 37 dB
Necessary adequate impact sound insulation (large housing building with multiple apartments): L’n,w ≤ 48 dB.
Facade construction adequate to the external noise: D₂m,nT,w ≥ 30–40 dB.

3. Acoustic Absorption

Furniture is positioned to save space and utilise as much of it as possible. No acoustic intention was involved in the space allocation, but still some key elements stand:

Acoustic Effective Elements:

Bed (blue): 2.2 m2, Fabric, mid-low-high frequency absorber
Desk (red): 1.2 m2, Wood, mid-high frequency absorber
Kitchen counter (grey): 1.2 m2, wood, mid-low-high frequency absorber
Chair (yellow): 0.7 m2, Fabric, mid-high frequency absorber
(Window : 2 m2, glass and PVC, mid-low-high frequency absorber)

Furnishings that favour the diffuse reflection of sound:

Bed
Desk
Chair
Bedside table
Desk and kitchen objects
Decorations

Particularly reflective materials:

Glass (windows, shower door)
Table top
Kitchen top

4.Analysis

The apartment is generally relatively well insulated for such a densely populated building. The SIAs regulations are up to date due to the recent renovation of the apartments with thick walls and doors and new floors with a cement screed.

One unfixable mistake is that the lighting requirements of the space governed the window positioning process and had consequences for the acoustics. In this case, there is no quiet zone in the apartment, but in the bathroom. However, an exterior shading system protects you from the noise.

Further improvements could include renovations of the common spaces that acoustically pollute the apartments (loud corridor floor tiles). Another possibility would be to renovate the windows to include triple glazing or a strong frame (sound infiltration).