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What does Buying a Good Car Sound Like?

I am sitting on the couch and watching a rerun of Top Gear.
Jeremy Clarkson is trying to drive a Mercedes AMG from England to Oslo faster than his colleagues can get there by ferry and bus. I have seen this episode before, but an episode of Top Gear is always enjoyable no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

Jeremy is driving through the Øresund tunnel when he suddenly winds down the window, puts the pedal to the metal and laughs like a 5 year old bully who has stolen candy from a baby.

“Listen to that noise!” he yells, as if proclaiming it from the rooftops, while a chorus of chattering teeth comes booming from the TV.

The subwoofer is jumping like crazy in the corner of the room and sure enough, it sounds absolutely wonderful. At just that moment it feels like I should spend the rest of my life in the tunnel, sitting in a car with the music up loud and the windows down. Seconds later Jeremy drives out onto the Øresund Bridge. The BBC has spared no expense: A helicopter pans the bridge as the AMG glides across, the sun is shining, the water glistens and suddenly I’m not sure if I’m watching Top Gear or a “Visit Sweden” commercial. Either way, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

The motor can’t be heard anymore, but thinking back to the noise in the tunnel I realize that manufacturers must put a lot of time and effort into how cars sound – and by that I don’t only mean the engine. All of the sounds a car makes are important. How the car sounds when the door is closed, when the ignition is switched on, the tick of the turn signal and, in some countries in Southern Europe, even the horn.

I realize that I appreciate the reassuring, muffled clunk when the door shuts on my Audi. I especially appreciate that it is quiet in the passenger compartment but that they still managed to make sure that the engine sound from the V6 is clearly heard when shifting down and pressing on the gas. I have noticed on several occasions that it sounds cooler in the passenger compartment than outside the car and realize that it is probably exactly what Audi’s engineers had planned it.

Jeremy has driven quite a way up the west coast of Sweden and is now approaching the Norwegian border, a road I have traveled many times. A Cheshire Cat grin spreads across my face when I realize that he will soon reach the Mecca of safety cameras, where it doesn’t matter how fast your car is – in Norway you drive slowly. Period.

My mind wanders on and I realize that for all the time car manufacturers spend on the sound their cars make, they spend no time on the noises and the way it sounds in the showrooms that will attract prospective buyers to spend more money than they had ever dreamed of spending on something as trivial as a car.

I know this because I had the privilege of observing how a far-sighted contractor saved BMW’s skin when a showroom was opening on the most exclusive street in Brussels.

The design was planned down to every last detail. Nothing had been left to chance – except the sound environment. Though the sirens of Greek mythology had long ago learned the seductive power of sound, it appears they had neglected to brief BMW’s marketing department about the effect of sound on potential customers.

But suddenly, like a super hero from the 50ties, a brave Belgian entrepreneur strode in, and as if out of nowhere, the day was saved.

Because when you’re trying to decide if you should get 21″ alloy wheels, you really don’t want to hear an old lady babbling on trying to persuade her husband that they should buy a condo instead. You couldn’t care less what flavor of ice cream some little girl has decided to proclaim she deserves while you’re trying to enjoy the beautiful lines of the BMW 6 Series. And you don’t want to hear an espresso machine whirring away while you’re taking in that unique new car smell, because smell is every bit as important as sight and sound. But that is another story for another time.

The bald guy

Fellert North America – Silver CISCA Construction Excellence Award

Dining is savored with all of your senses

Eyes, mouth, ears. It is our mission to provide solutions that assist in making that magic happen.

Newly opened Atlas Restaurant at the St. Regis Atlanta is one of those places where you can have that experience. Zurca Construction Solutions Inc. with Fellert certified installers Delta Construction executed the renovation of the space to such high standards that it received the CISCA South Region Renovation Silver award.

Architect, The Johnson Studio of Atlanta, has designed a restaurant where everything is communicating fine taste and quality in detail. It’s in the interior decoration, lighting, furniture and fabrics all the way to walls and ceiling. An acoustical ceiling, that is vaulted with sharp points and with an old world look to match the Venetian plaster. This was achieved through creating a custom two-tone color variation plaster of the Even Better Silk.

The restaurant also hosts works of art from the Lewis Collection, one of the world’s largest private collections. When the right room acoustics is created, the atmosphere is there – allowing your pallet to focus on the food, allowing your eyes to wander to the surrounding walls and ceilings…maybe to the Picasso, Soutine, van Gogh or the Chagall, and allowing you to also have an engaging conversation about it.

All of these elements are part of the experience, that’s what you taste! We are grateful to CISCA (Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association) for recognizing the importance of the work that contributes to that ambience.

Launch – New Even Better Acoustical System

Create a bridge between materials and gain color consistency

Photo: Mikael Lindén

Our acoustical coating is now fully incorporated! When using Even Better Acoustical Coating as a complement to our system, we’ve seen a number of benefits:

First of all, you’re gaining color consistency and stability – no more integral color.

Using integrally colored materials requires skill and craftsmanship. Installing acoustical ceilings still does, but Even Better Acoustical Coating is ready-to-use and makes it simpler to achieve a consistent color without a mottled look when using dark or rich colors.

Color matching with adjoining surfaces is easier as well. Just continue with the coating on the adjoining material – plasterboard, acoustic panel, etc. – for a faultless match. Visible parts, like trims and C-channels on colored surfaces are no longer a problem. When Even Better Acoustical Coating is applied it also covers the molding, which receives the same color as the plaster for a perfect match.

Color variations between different surface structures are things of the past too, which means that Silk, Sahara and Secern can be used side by side.

Additionally, acoustical plaster is still more sensitive than painted plasterboard, but the coated surface makes cleaning and maintenance a whole different story compared to the previous finish. Also, we all know that sometimes accidents happen – now patching and repairs are easier, go faster and with a better result.

In short, the new Even Better Acoustical System provides color stability and a more durable and resistant surface. These are qualities that increase the service life of the product, which also means that we can extend the standard guarantee to 5 years.

Fellert contributes to an Even Better sound in IMAX movie theatre

Kino Kosmos, a historic cinema, downtown Tallin, Estonia, has been “recycled” to fit the Baltics first IMAX movie theatre.

Originally designed by architects Ilmar Laas and Udo Ivask, it was one of the 1960’s largest cultural projects in the Baltics. Now, Kino Kosmos’s at the forefront again, offering the latest technology within audio and visual performance – just like Even Better Acoustical Systems. In this case acoustical excellence is achieved with 500 m2 (5400 sq ft) of seamless ceilings in the Secern finish, and through the skillful installation of Acoustic Scandinavia. That’s Great sound and Good looks!

Happy Easter!

Photo: Gimyoun Song / indiphos via Dazeen

/The Fellert team

When surfing inspires architecture

When surfing and the waves inspire architecture, interesting projects happen.

One of them happened to us in Biarritz, another in Fujisawa.

The Wave House, Fujisawa, Kanagawa in Japan, was designed by Appollo Architects & Associates to fit the owner’s surfer lifestyle and connect the indoors with the outdoors. Read more @ Wallpaper* Magazine. 

In surfers’ paradise Biarritz, France, Steve Holl’s Cité De L’océan Et Du Surf offers another great example of when the ocean inspire architectural expression.

Photo: Iwan Baan

The spatial concept of the building “under the sky”/”under the sea” gives the visitors a unique experience where both elements communicate with you and with each other. The abstract concreate waves roll around you on the exterior plaza, while they float above your head through seamless ceilings inside the museum.

Fellert releases 2 new products – Even Better Acoustical Coating & Even Better Access Panel

Are you bold or are you shy?

Photos: via Hotel Marques de Riscal & via Treehotel at room902

Now you can have loud colors in a quiet room. With Even Better Acoustical Coating you can make bold statements but without making a lot of noise. Give a room attitude without sacrificing its acoustical qualities. Maybe you want to freshen up existing walls and ceilings, or match the new floor even better but you don’t want to distract from the good acoustical environment?

On the other hand, an inspection hatch should be seen as little as possible. This is why we’ve developed Even Better Access Panel, admittedly a bit timid, but fully adapted to the Even Better system. We all sometimes want to see what’s up there – well, now you can!

The new face of Töölö Bay Park area, Helsinki, is emerging

The city centre of Helsinki is undergoing a constant change, creating a thriving place for commerce and business as well as for the people living there and those who come to visit.

New ideas are put to the test with existing concepts, sometimes creating a refreshing discussion – we like that – friction fuels development!

One hot topic is the very heart of Helsinki, the Töölö Bay Park. It’s part of the new development and we are now beginning to visualise what the area is going to look like. The park is already the home of Steven Holl’s Kaisma Museum of Contemporary Art which successfully intertwines with the geometry of the city and the surrounding landscape, as well as Helsinki Music Centre and the Finnish National Opera. This is going to be an area where you will experience culture, art, business and greenery all at once. Recreational features are being enhanced, a new Central Library is on its way and new residential and office buildings are being built. One of them, the new KPMG building designed by Aki Davidson is finished, overlooking the park and Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall. visit > KPMG project

Photo: Patrik Lindström

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year

Our sincere thanks and best wishes for a wonderful year 2015!

The Fellert family

Trees of the Architects by Jill Dryer

A blank Canvas – far from it

Well, if you want them to be – but not when it comes to ideas and experience!
We are happy to introduce you to our new member of the Fellert Europe family from the country of fjords, Norway – Canvas AS.

With many years of experience within construction and interior design, Canvas offers both technical and artistic knowledge. We are proud to be part of their product portfolio and looking forward to seeing you at their yearly event Designers Corner.

Check out Canvas sooner at their 500 m² showroom in Oslo, or go to canvas.no