The Harmony of Light and Sound

The past decade has seen increased action to ensure that buildings are healthier for occupants and more sustainable for the environment.

And as the focus increasingly narrows on optimising these spaces, awareness has grown of the importance of how the acoustic conditions and quality of lighting profoundly impact human performance.

By reducing ambient noise levels, office and study spaces can be optimised for focus, collaboration or virtual meetings.

Luminaires that are designed for the non-visual effects of light, such as circadian entrainment, positively impact alertness, well-being and productivity. 

Light and sound are then increasingly important aspects in designing people-centred buildings.

Acoustic wellness 

Considering acoustic design requirements for comfortable verbal communication in workspaces is usually underestimated. 

Open-plan spaces encourage teamwork and communication between staff, provide flexibility for a change in office layouts and are cost-effective. They do, however, result in compromised acoustics due to ambient noise levels.

Providing good temporal sound behaviour in a room is also a critical component in successful teleconferencing—often exemplified by complaints from remote parties during audio-video conferencing or activities in adjoining spaces being disturbed. 

The impact of sound has been exacerbated by people having become accustomed to working or studying at home for prolonged periods, with many having become acoustically sensitive to busy environments, finding them too distracting, loud or uncomfortable. 

As a result, there is now a demand for dedicated spaces that better suit collaboration, deep work, complex tasks and virtual meetings—areas that foster focused attention.

▲ Spaces with optimised light and sound produce a great benefit for the users.

Optimised lighting 

Designers and employers now recognise that better quality lighting, delivered in the right way, influences occupants—visually, biologically and emotionally. 

Well-lit spaces can enhance employee health, mood and performance, reduce absenteeism and help companies to retain staff, all of which contribute to a positive company culture.

Quality, low-glare and comfortable lighting is vital to well-being and productivity within the built environment.

Best of both worlds

We can see then that spaces with optimised light and sound have a profoundly positive impact on occupants and so utilising sound-absorbing luminaires makes sense.

One such option is Eagle Lighting’s Silencio: Arin.

Made in Australia from environmentally friendly materials, Arin is a sound-absorbing and high-performing luminaire designed to enhance interior design while helping to maintain a comfortable ambient noise level.

Sound-absorbing luminaires were an innovative choice to positively enhance light and sound quality in a space, Eagle Lighting category manager Anthony Browning said.

“They also make good financial sense too. We see with Arin, for example, that the measurable acoustic contribution (RT60) to a space can account for up to 40 per cent of the total value of the light fitting,” Browning said.

“So, it then becomes obvious that by combining elements of sound absorption and light quality in a single solution delivers terrific value for money.”

By combining all the elements that have profoundly positive effects on people—light, sound-absorption and personalisation—sound-absorbing luminaires are an obvious choice to help designers create spaces that positively impact people’s wellbeing and productivity within healthy and sustainable buildings.

The Urban Developer is proud to partner with Eagle Lighting to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.