Den Haag
Apartment-tower residents in Den Haag can sit on their balconies in peace because of sound-absorbing dividers
For those looking for a rental flat in one of Den Haag’s bustling neighbourhoods, the Leeghwaterplein in the Laakhaven area is a safe bet. Ten Brinke developed and built three brand new apartment towers of which many balconies have been equipped with Merford’s sound-absorbing divider panels that strongly reduce the city’s sound reflections.
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Ten Brinke -
Construction, Residential buildings -
2021
Balconies
The Vijverhof project consists of three apartment towers of which one is made up entirely of student flats that were finished in 2019. The other two towers will be finished in 2021 and, combined, will house 150 apartments. Each apartment will have a balcony that ranges from 4 to 13 square metres and provides the residents with a great view of the city. Unfortunately, in a busy city like Den Haag, it is never truly quiet. That is why the developer has gone above and beyond to equip a large portion of the balconies with Merford’s sound-absorbing panels.
Sound reflections
When sound vibrations happen to collide with hard materials such as concrete or glass, chances are they gain a larger reach. For instance, imagine a large cathedral. When you drop a pen in the back, you will be able to hear the sound of it hitting the floor in the front. In densely populated areas such as cities, the same effect tends to happen. A tram or bus passing by can wake someone on the sixth floor. This is where sound-absorbing panels come in. They reduce the amount of sound vibrations being reflected and therefore also the level of annoyance.
Martijn Arts (Ten Brinke): 'Merford gave us clear instructions before we started to work with the material. Applying went almost by itself once we got the hang of it.'
Soundglass
Merford’s panels are made with Soundglass, a sintered and recycled glass granule that is incombustible and contains no chemicals. Ten Brinke has mounted the panels onto each floor’s ceiling after they were supplied by Merford earlier this spring. The ceiling is a great location for them as most sounds come from below and will now directly come into contact with the panels, reducing the sound before it becomes annoying.One of the project’s executors from Ten Brinke, Martijn Arts, is very positive about the collaboration. He says: ‘Merford has extensively instructed us before we began working with the material. This, and of course some practice, made it incredibly easy to instal the panels. And if we had any doubts or questions, Merford was there for us with advice whenever we needed it.’