Felt ceiling system HeartFelt® combines top acoustics with Joe branding.
Felt ceiling system HeartFelt® combines top acoustics with Joe branding.
The modular felt ceiling system HeartFelt® from Hunter Douglas Architectural has been used successfully in a wide variety of projects since its introduction in 2016. DPG Media, the Belgium parent holding company of the commercial TV channels VTM and Q2, also chose HeartFelt® for the new studio of radio channel Joe. With its unique sound-absorbing performance, the felt ceiling system meets the particularly high acoustic requirements for a radio studio. HeartFelt® was installed in four different rooms over a total surface of 126m². The ceiling fits in perfectly with the general look and feel of the new radio studio, which radiates playfulness and openness.
After 10 years, the Joe radio studio was due for renewal. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new studio is ready for future challenges in the field of digitisation. To enhance the homely and cheerful atmosphere, DPG Media was looking for a ceiling system that deviates from the typical ceilings for offices with a rather cool and sterile appearance.
Warm atmosphere and state of the art acoustics “Previously, a radio studio was a closed room with acoustic walls in which the DJs did their work in a dark room. In today’s radio studios, everything revolves around experience and collaboration. The interior of the new Joe studio has been adapted to this with open spaces, lots of light and lots of glass. The slat effect of the felt panels in shades of grey reinforces the playful and airy character of our new studio,” says Stijn Van den Acker, facilities manager DPG Media. With an above-average performance in the field of sound absorption, HeartFelt® meets the high acoustic requirements for a radio studio. An additional asset is the space between the felt slats that allows air ventilation pipes to be installed invisibly above the ceiling.
“HeartFelt® seemed the most suitable solution for Joe’s radio studio,” said Linda De Ridder, sales engineer at Hunter Douglas Architectural. “This ceiling system combines aesthetic and functional qualities and differs from the existing linear ceiling systems that are mostly made of metal - often aluminum. The disadvantage of metal ceilings is that they reflect strong light and sound. Felt offers an organic solution for this: it ‘breaks’ light in such a way that a beautiful, natural colour is created. At the same time, felt is naturally a sound-absorbing material. That makes it much easier to achieve good building acoustics.”
HeartFelt® is a modular linear felt ceiling system with unique qualities in terms of design and sustainability. HeartFelt® is made from Cradle to Cradle-certified felt, a natural and soft material with a warm appearance and excellent acoustic properties.
The felt panels from HeartFelt® are available with a height of 55 millimetres (40 W x 55 H mm) in five shades of grey, from off-white to anthracite, and five earth tones. The range was recently expanded with panels of 80 millimetres (40 W x 80 H mm) and 105 millimetres (40 W x 105 H mm) in five shades of grey. The carriers of the modular system are available in two colours (metallic and coated black) and 16 different module sizes, varying from 50 to 200 millimetres (was 100 millimetres), always with an intermediate step of 10 millimetres.
In 2017, the felt ceiling system from Hunter Douglas won the prestigious Red Dot Award in the Product Design category.
