A Modern Interior Can Look Flawless and Still Feel Uncomfortable
Glass, concrete, porcelain stoneware, high ceilings and open-plan layouts create expressive architecture, but absorb very little sound. Conversations reflect from hard surfaces, voices merge into a continuous background, reverberation builds up, and people are forced to speak more loudly.
The problem is especially noticeable in restaurants, offices, meeting rooms, entrance halls, classrooms and public spaces. Visually, the project is complete: the furniture is in place and the lighting has been adjusted, yet the space remains tiring and uncomfortable. The cause is often not external noise, but sound continuing to reflect inside the room for too long.
A beautiful interior does not always sound good
Architects and designers work with form, colour, texture, lighting and the way a space will be used. Acoustics, however, is often postponed until the final stage because it is perceived as a separate and highly technical engineering discipline.
As a result, the problem is discovered only after the space has opened:
- restaurant guests have to speak over the surrounding noise;
- concentration becomes difficult in an open-plan office;
- speech sounds hollow and loses clarity in a meeting room;
- even an ordinary conversation produces noticeable echo in a spacious lobby;
- students seated further away struggle to hear the teacher.
Correcting a completed interior is more difficult than incorporating sound absorption during the design stage. However, designers do not need to master complex formulas or become acoustic engineers themselves.
For an initial assessment, it is enough to understand one key indicator: RT60.
What does RT60 measure?
RT60 is the time required for the sound level in a room to decrease by 60 dB after the sound source has stopped. It is measured in seconds and helps determine how long sound continues to reflect from the walls, floor, ceiling and other surfaces. Methods for measuring reverberation time in ordinary rooms are defined by the ISO 3382-2 standard.
The longer these reflections remain, the more reverberant the space feels. However, there is no universal ideal value. A meeting room, restaurant, living room and auditorium all require different acoustic conditions. The intended use of the space determines the appropriate reverberation-time range.
Previously, an initial calculation required collecting information about the room dimensions, surface areas, materials and sound absorption coefficients, and then manually comparing the result with the project requirements.
The PHONITURA RT60 Calculator now handles this part of the process.
What does the PHONITURA Calculator do?
The calculator estimates the current reverberation time and shows the approximate area of acoustic material that should be added to bring the room closer to the target RT60 value.
The user enters:
- the length, width and height of the space;
- the principal materials used for the walls, floor and ceiling;
- the intended use of the room.
The system then calculates:
- room volume;
- surface areas;
- current and target sound absorption;
- estimated reverberation time;
- recommended area of Archiphonic material.
The calculation is based on standard average absorption coefficients and is intended as a preliminary project assessment.
Most importantly, the designer receives the answer in a clear and practical form:
How many square metres of sound-absorbing material should be included in the interior?
No independent search for coefficients. No complex tables. No manual calculations.
The calculator answers “how much”. The designer decides “how”
This is where the creative process begins.
The calculator does not prescribe a particular product or force the acoustic solution into a rigid arrangement of identical panels. It determines the approximate material area, while the architect decides how to distribute it within the project.
The required level of sound absorption can be achieved in many ways:
- wall or ceiling panels;
- suspended baffles;
- acoustic luminaires;
- compositions made from geometric elements;
- decorative partitions;
- parametric structures;
- material integrated into furniture;
- acoustic artwork or bespoke installations.
The PHONITURA range includes panels, baffles, luminaires, partitions, furniture, suspended structures and printed acoustic products. Our manufacturing capabilities make it possible to produce elements from sketches and technical drawings, modify geometry, dimensions and colours, and combine the acoustic material with lighting and decorative components.
The technical requirement does not restrict the concept. It establishes a clear quantity of material that can be transformed into an integral part of the interior.
One calculation, many design solutions
Suppose the calculator shows that a room requires an additional 24 m² of Archiphonic material.
This does not mean that one wall must be covered with exactly 24 m² of panels. The calculated area can be distributed across several products and surfaces:
- part of it can be placed on the ceiling;
- part can become a wall composition;
- acoustic luminaires can be positioned above workstations;
- partitions can be added between functional zones;
- a suspended structure can be installed above the busiest part of the room.
The area remains the reference point, while the final form depends on the character of the space.
A formal office may benefit from rhythmically arranged baffles or restrained ceiling elements. In a restaurant, the acoustic solution can become the principal decorative feature. A children’s space may use bright shapes, while a spacious lobby may call for a large parametric installation.
The same acoustic result does not require the same visual solution.
Creative freedom without working blindly
When acoustic elements are selected only for their appearance, it is difficult to know whether the quantity will be sufficient. Several attractive panels may be installed without producing a noticeable improvement. The opposite can also happen: the interior may become overloaded with acoustic material without any objective need.
The calculator creates a reliable basis for an informed decision. It:
- shows the scale of the acoustic challenge;
- helps include the material in the project from the beginning;
- allows the available installation area to be assessed;
- simplifies the preparation of visualisations;
- provides a starting point for the project budget;
- helps explain and justify the solution to the client.
The designer is not working by guesswork, but is also not restricted by a predefined layout.
The figures support the acoustic validity of the concept. The creative interpretation remains in the hands of the project author.
Compare several scenarios before creating the visualisation
The calculator is useful not only for confirming the final solution, but also for comparing different options.
For example, it can help assess:
- how the result changes when a different floor finish is selected;
- what happens if some of the glass surfaces are replaced;
- how much acoustic material will be required if the ceiling height changes;
- whether the planned acoustic elements are sufficient;
- how significant the difference is between the current and target RT60 values.
This makes it possible to discuss acoustics alongside the floor plan, finishes and lighting rather than after the project has already been approved.
The earlier the required sound-absorbing area is identified, the more naturally it can be integrated into the interior.
A preliminary calculation does not replace a full acoustic design
The calculator uses standard average absorption coefficients, so its results are indicative. In a real project, acoustic performance is also influenced by the layout, furniture, building services, occupancy, distribution of surfaces and other site-specific factors.
For complex public spaces, unusual geometries and projects subject to mandatory acoustic standards, the final selection should be reviewed by a specialist. PHONITURA allows the calculation parameters to be submitted with an enquiry, after which our team can verify the data and recommend suitable products.
Even so, the preliminary assessment already solves the main task: the designer understands the scale of the required intervention and can incorporate it into the design concept.
Acoustics becomes part of the design, not a limitation
A well-designed space is not experienced only visually. It should also be comfortable for conversation, concentration, work and rest. Sound affects the perception of an interior just as strongly as lighting, colour and texture.
The RT60 Calculator handles the technical part of the preliminary assessment and shows the required area of sound absorption. The architect then decides what that area will become: panels, luminaires, baffles, partitions, furniture or a bespoke installation.
There is no need to choose between acoustics and aesthetics.
Accurate figures provide the foundation. PHONITURA provides the materials and manufacturing technologies. The designer creates a space that not only looks impressive, but also sounds right.
Calculate the RT60 for your project, receive an estimated material area and transform it into your own acoustic solution.