Technical Components
Acoustic Drapery • Tracks • Installation
Summary
J&C Joel was approached by Dave Parsons, Principal Consultant at Vanguardia, to support a project involving Bold Tendencies, a not-for-profit arts organisation based in the rooftop spaces at Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park in South London.
Bold Tendencies required us to design a unique set of acoustic curtains to assist with two objectives.
First, they required a tracked, decorative, acoustically insulating and absorbent drape to divide their performance level to create a more intimate space with improved sound intelligibility.
Second, to reduce the amount of sound escaping from the car park’s open sides, a series of acoustically insulating drapes were required to be permanently fixed over the apertures.
Once the site had been surveyed, we worked with the Bold Tendencies team and Hannah Barry Gallary to agree on the fabrics and the number of layers for the decorative divider drape.
The decision was made to use our Coloured Wool Serge in Gold with 50% fullness for the front and rear layers. In between, we utilised our Midnight PVC Projection Screen to act as the ‘blocker’ layer. This fabric offers a more supple alternative to traditional PVC, which makes the curtain look neater when open whilst providing excellent sound insulating properties.
To protect the base of the drape from wear and tear caused by the rough car park floor, we used our Clear PVC to create a ‘cap’.
For the fixed insulating drapes, we utilised our Wool Serge 565 and our 620gsm Black PVC Coated fabric. Due to the rear layer being exposed to the elements, we went with just two layers for these drapes.
Our expert team of installers fixed a Triple E Erail track directly to the concrete ceiling from which the divider drape was hung. To ensure no sound escaped above the drapes, we installed a short pelmet made from the same fabric combination.
For the fixed drapes, we installed timber battens all around and attached the drapes using velcro. This helped all form an acoustic seal over the apertures.
Both ourselves and our track partner, Triple E, donated materials to the project as a sign of our support for the crucial work Bold Tendencies do to widen access to the arts.
