Blog
We think a lot. We have opinions. About architecture. About acoustics. And why a really good album hasn’t been released since December 1, 1973 – in other words, Black Sabbath’s fifth studio album. Sometimes it happens. The magic. Protests, songs of praise? Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Great Sound Good Looks – In the center of Borås!
We at Fellert are used to send our products all over the world; the Middle East, Asia, South and North America are just some of the places that choose Fellert.
Summertime in Scandinavia for Fellert’s U.S. sales reps
When the books were closed on May 1st, one year of competition ended and the winning sales representatives were:
1. MK Marketing
2. Artexture+
3. the Shannon corporation / the Finish Line (on joint third place)
The price was an all inclusive trip to Scandinavia for two, to spend one week enjoying Scandinavian food, cities, the nature and a lot of fun activities in between.
For those sales reps who didn’t make it this time, please look at the pictures below to get some inspiration and Better luck next time!
New approach to building. Less spread of disease
The new infectious disease clinic in Malmö, Sweden has attracted considerable international attention. Personnel at the clinic were permitted to participate in planning the building and collaborated with the architects throughout the project.
The architecture became the primary tool in safeguarding against the spread of infectious diseases with wards that can be quickly isolated and accessed via separate entrances, elevators of various types for transport needs, good availability of natural light and ventilation, and with an interior and choice of colors that promote accelerated and stimulating recovery.
Sweden has had increasingly fewer outbreaks of resistant bacteria compared to for example, the US and UK. A possible explanation to this can be the focus on increasing the number of single-patient rooms. That the new way of building hospitals and clinics costs more unfortunately slows further development, but placed in the perspective of what multi-resistant bacteria outbreaks of the SARS type cost society, the debate should be conducted in more forums.
Indepth look:
Skane university hospital infectious disease center
Project info: C.F. Möller Case
BBH Awards – Novel circular building in Sweden scoops Best International Healthcare Design award
Stonehenge. Acoustics like a cathedral
Source: Wikipedia
Ancient examples of architecture such as Stonehenge are good for more than attracting green men from outer space or for dancing in on Midsummer clothed in animal hides. New research in archaeoacoustics shows that in principle, Stonehenge has the same acoustical functions as a cathedral, with a rich acoustical environment and considerable reverb.
And how exactly has this been arrived at? It’s like this… while the original is more or less an attractively arranged pile of rocks, there is a copy of how Stonehenge could have looked when it was built in – where else – the US. Dr Bruno Fazenda (with a PhD in Room Acoustics and Psychoacoustics) in Maryhill, Washington and his colleagues at the universities in Huddersfield and Bristol in the UK, have tested the acoustical values to get an idea of how it could of sounded when worshipers hummed, bellowed and prayed. And it sounds… pretty good!
We at Fellert have to tip our neolithic hats to the builders.
Indepth look:
Salford scientists reveal the ‘sound of Stonehenge’
Solving Stonehenge: The New Key to an Ancient Enigma
Sound Tourism – A Travel Guide to Sonic Wonders
Architecture in all seriousness
We’d also like to take the opportunity to pass on a tip about a good book on architecture, even though it is presently only available in Swedish. But for all those with insufficient knowledge of this Eastern Nordic, Indo-European minority language, we thought we’d give you a quick summary.
In Vad är arkitektur och 100 andra jätteviktiga frågor, Gert Wingårdh (one of Sweden’s most well-known architects) and architectural historian Rasmus Waern provide us with some good answers about architecture’s raison d’être. For example, the question “Are words needed? Isn’t it enough to draw?”
The answer: Architects spend more time talking, writing, listening and reading than drawing. For things to turn out the way you want, it’s not just the vision that has to be convincing, but also the arguments.”
Comments on this?
Fördjupning:
Vad är arkitektur och 100 andra jätteviktiga frågor (What is architecture and 100 other very important questions)
Fellert Ultra at the American Swedish institute in Minneapolis
Pretty obvious when you think about it, that a Fellert ceiling would end up in a place like the LEED Gold certified American Swedish institute in Minneapolis. You could only imagine what other Swedish design companies that would have contributed to make this institute look as nice as it does. With risk of repeating ourselves : Great Sound, Good Looks!
Design by HGA architects in Minneapolis. Installed by AE Conrad. Great work by Tom Tanner as well in bringing this project on board for Fellert!
More information on the project can be found on the following links:
The Qatari reverb
Places of worship put very specific demands on the architecture. This is nothing new, neither for contractors nor for those who set the specifications. But beautiful, sacred structures only function as intended if the acoustical environment is carefully planned – which isn’t always the case.
The large State Mosque in Qatar is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with careful planning. Largely built in marble and with enormous spaces for 20,000 visitors and a prayer hall that can accommodate more than 10,000 persons, this sanctuary was also a gigantic acoustical challenge.
Swedish acoustics consultants from Soliflx, with veteran Jan Setterberg in the lead, were initially commissioned to appraise the technology in the prayer hall, but the assignment was later expanded to embrace appraisal of the acoustics for the entire structure.
“The reverb was astounding, with a time measured at all of nine seconds,” says Jan Setterberg. “Appropriately enough, Fellert and Soliflex have been partners for quite some time, and working together, we managed to get the reverb time down to about four seconds, and this without intruding upon the architect’s original vision for design expression.
“What was decisive however, was the architect’s interest in acoustics. At the first meeting, there were twelve of us, discussing acoustics and good acoustical environments. It was just as unusual as it was… refreshing.”
Indepth look:
Cutting the reverb
Soliflex
Fellert in Norway: perfectly restored functionalism environment
Restaurang Ingierstrand Bad and the adjoining recreational area on the banks of the Oslo Fjord were inaugurated in 1934 and quickly became a favorite destination for the people of Oslo by offering the future – Functionalism, public bathing facilities and leisure!
For many years, special ferries traveled between downtown Oslo and the facility, with up to 120,000 visitors in a single season during the peak years. Unfortunately, this fantastic restaurant in the Functionalism style – referred to as The White Elephant by Oslo residents – with its expansive terrace and mushroom-shaped dance floor fell into neglect and decay over the years. Eighty years, a pardon from the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Norway and 50 million Norwegian crowns later, reservations can once again be placed at this beautiful summer restaurant. The building was meticulously renovated to near-original condition after careful study of photographs and documents from 1934 to determine among other things, the correct shades of color on the ceilings and walls, and even textile structures.
“The focus has been on making time stand still – as if we hadn’t done anything at all,” says Mette Værnes, architect from Oslobyrån Arkitektskap. “And we’ve really succeeded.” The characteristic saw-tooth ceiling was a special challenge in design, with its many color combinations, and naturally a dream project for Feller.
Indepth look:
Fellert case study: Ingierstrand Bad
Deserted places: Ingierstrand, Norway
Cultural observations: Iceland
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kæstur hákarl means fermented shark and is a curiously distinctive dish. The shark is first placed in a pit in the ground, covered with earth, gravel and stone, and left there for up to 12 weeks to mellow. It is then cut into strips and hung up to dry. Months later it’s carved again, this time into small, small chunks. it’s now ready to put on the table, preferably with a good amount of schnapps, just so it goes down a little easier.
The uniqueness of a culture in which something like this can evolve might be suspected to manifest itself in other ways as well, such as in remarkable architecture, and this is certainly the case. One of the world’s most spectacular places of worship towers above the capitol Reykjavik like some gigantic monolith.
The Hallgrímskirkja took 38 years to build and is reminiscent of a volcano with petrified lava flows down the slopes. The organ within has 5,275 pipes, is 15 meters high and weighs all of 25 tons. And as if this isn’t enough, the acoustics are pure magic, despite there not being a single square meter of Fellert Even Better in the church, neither on the walls nor ceiling. We bow with reverence both to the country’s architectural and culinary extremes.
Source: Wikipedia
Indepth look:
Minecraft Hallgrimskirkja church
Kansas, land of (Fellert) AHS
When ranking beautiful buildings and museums in particular, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City usually places high. No one less than famed American architect Steven Holl was behind the renovation – and new construction – of this extraordinary art museum.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum is an excellent example of how modern architecture with its preference for glass, stone and steel places monumental demands on acoustics and ceiling design. Not the least when the environment is intended to nourish inspiration and contemplation. 
We show no modesty here in pointing out Fellert’s contributions to the overall experience. Have a look at our case study and while you’re at it, why not www.stevenholl.com as well?
Heading? The state’s official slogan for describing Kansas – sweeping golden plains, big blue skies, breathtaking sunsets, rich history and friendly people. And fantastic acoustical solutions.
Indepth look:
Everything is up to date in Kansas City—and hotter too
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (Fellert Even Better)