Sound is an important aspect of our environment, in fact is one of the most common things which annoy people in the workplace according to occupancy evaluations, and yet, for some reason we tend to forget about how a space “sounds”.  Because we can’t see it, it’s hard to specify, and it’s certainly not top of mind when we are going shopping for the flooring, table lamps, curtains and tiles. But it should be. In a study of 1000 workers led by environmental psychologist Dr Nigel Oseland for the Remark Group, it was found that 65% of workers said noise impacted their ability to complete work in an accurate and timely manner and 58% said that noise had a high impact on their stress levels in the workplace.

Terrapin Bright Green has a whole paper on sound “An Ear for Nature - Psychoacoustic Strategies for Workplace Distractions & The Bottom Line” and explores how biophilic design interventions can help alleviate acoustic stress.

In our edition here, we look at this invisible aspect of interior design, we have case studies of biophilic design interventions in healthcare, workplaces, hospitality and more. We look at the science behind how sound affects our minds and also the wildlife around us. How sound affects us in the workplace, which noises annoy, how to mask irritating sound, ideas and tips on how to bring biophilic interventions into your designs how and when to add soundscapes to a space to mask or enhance the living systems in a space.

We have some heavy hitters who are experts in sound, from the amazing Julian Treasure  to expert psychoacoustician Paige Hodsman. Sound is one of the last things that leaves us when we depart this earth, we forgot about this. We put people in cacophonous hospitals, we shove them into corridors while they wait for emergency treatment. People’s eyes might be closed, but they are aware of the sounds around us.

Being mindful of how our spaces sound could be one of the best things you do this year. Collaborate, reach out for advice, switch the harsh reflective surface you were intending to put in the open plan office, and include some sound wave deflecting plants, wool lampshades, softer furnishings, create zoning for quiet work, bring in wood rather than metal and plastic, use cork. Many many ideas, we are here to help find the best solutions too, do reach out, our sourcing director in Milan can help you, globally. We want to accelerate this change, and we can do it. Together.