Ceilings present a three-dimensional scope in interiors. They offer surfaces beyond the enveloping walls of a space for creative musings. However, with contemporary requirements and technological advancements, the ceiling’s role has progressed from just being a canvas and a conduit for wires to a much more integrated one. With the ongoing redefinition of office environments and a renewed focus on well-being, each element contributing to an interior space is being looked at closely, and ceilings, too, are not spared from this scrutiny.
Jesper B. Jørgensen, Member of the Group Management Committee Ceiling Solutions and Cement Board expresses, “I think every employer, everyone who has people coming in and out of their offices has experienced that now it’s all about well-being – the awareness of acoustic ceilings and the expectations for this kind of solutions has increased. Especially after the pandemic, it has become essential to have workplaces and collaborative areas that make us, the end-users, feel welcome and energetic.”
AMF Ventatec Grid from Knauf Ceiling Solutions at the recently completed JLL Office – ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai
As part of the Knauf Group, Knauf Ceiling Solutions is an industry leader in the manufacturing and installation of building materials and acoustic ceilings design. Since the group kicked off in 1932 and with decades of experience gathered along the road, the company stayed true to its motto in keeping up with technological advancements and delivering the best, no matter what.
Karl Wenig, Managing Director of Knauf Ceiling Solutions EMEA, mentions, “A large number of studies highlight the need for high acoustic performances to improve people’s concentration. With this at heart, we developed a wide range of solutions that absorb and reflect the ideal amount of sound depending on the space and its intended use.”
Acoustics for Well-Being – Offices, Educational Environments and Healthcare Institutions
While workspaces are being spotlighted as areas in dire need of a makeover – educational and healthcare institutions also require acoustic solutions for optimal functionality. Concentration and personal space are as crucial in learning environments as in offices. In schools and universities, the proper acoustic treatment allows lecture halls to reverberate sound till the very end of the room, and classrooms can be cocooned from disturbances from corridors and other adjacent spaces. Some of the perils of poorly performing acoustics in these settings are decreased cognitive skills, reduced concentration, student-teacher disconnection, and auditory and vocal exhaustion. “Our portfolio does not only produce products from one material; we have products from various materials, from wood wool to mineral to metal to meet purposes in various functional settings ”, Karl emphasises.
The success of hospitals and medical centres has to do directly with patient well-being. Noise from equipment and machinery inside the premises, or even the day-to-day ongoings, can hinder a restful stay for in-patients. Additionally, using hard and easily cleanable surfaces in healthcare construction often leads to high reverberation, resulting in long echoes and noisy, unpleasant surroundings.
Wood Wool Ceiling – Heradesign Superfine from Knauf Ceiling Solutions at the Campus Central, University of Stirling
“We have developed a dedicated range for healthcare premises, which not only suits for the entry areas with high acoustic and hygienic demands but also for various spaces inside the hospital, where you can play with colours and shapes while delivering superior acoustics and cleanability”, says Karl.
A shining example is the Cleveland Hospital where Optima TechZone from Knauf Ceiling Solutions played a pivotal role in ensuring superior acoustic quality and unparalleled hygienic standards. From providing non-standard sizes to a seamless installation experience, the team at Knauf Ceiling Solutions worked together with HDR to curate an interior environment that is in-line with the project’s state-of-the-art architecture.
Knauf Ceiling Solutions is big on technically sound solutions and sensitive to aesthetic ambitions. Take the Dubai International Airport, 1mm Aluminium Vaulted Ceiling in bespoke, low-gloss powder coating, impact-resistant Metal Cladding and various Clip-In ceilings by the brand, effortlessly fit into the swanky aura of the space.
Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi
Ceiling Trends
“We are seeing that the smooth white ceilings like our newly introduced ADAGIO are one of the trendsetters. Also, having a seamless acoustic ceiling, like ELEGANZA, is also a key differentiator. At the same time, we are also seeing other materials popping off. For instance, PET and wood boards are really booming at the moment”, informs Jesper.
ELEGANZA Seamless Acoustic Ceilings; ADAGIO Mineral Ceiling
Knauf Ceiling Solutions – The Partner for the Right Ceilings
The teams at Knauf Ceiling Solutions have a passion for ceilings and coming up with the best outcome for a space; Jesper elaborates, “Our people on the ground, here in the UAE and all over the world, are ready to help architects, designers or even technicians to come up with the best solution. If the local colleagues cannot help, we can rely on a global network of specialists, so we can reach them very quickly to help all our clients reach their ambitions. We have dedicated teams who are well-versed with our solutions and can not only help from specification to installation but also provide with the right documentation – from fire certificates to acoustic test results, to all the different environmental certifications and lastly also with BIM objects – we can bring it all.”
According to Knauf Ceiling Solutions, one modular ceiling could work on various pain points – acoustics, fire safety, scratch resistance, light reflectance and hygiene. The brand positions itself as a ceiling scientist; they strive to achieve what’s never been done before.
From left to right: Karl Wenig, Managing Director of Knauf Ceiling Solutions EMEA; Jesper B. Jørgensen, Member of the Group Management Committee Ceiling Solutions and Cement Board
Knauf Ceiling Solutions, Sustainability and the Future
“Sustainability is one of our must-win battles. Later this year, in 2023, we will announce our targets for 2032 and our long-term goal later on. We have very, very high ambitions and are already investing heavily in our manufacturing process for more sustainable building materials.”
“I don’t know if we are top everywhere, but what I can say is that we strive for the best in everything we do. Our secret? Being present all the time – listening to the voice of the market, to the customers, and then, transferring all this knowledge into our innovation department and training our colleagues to make sure that they understand and capture it – we are constantly making sure we bring the solution forward and contribute to a better living and working environment,” concludes Jesper.
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8 June, 2023
