Re: Acoustics in common house--not always desirable
From: Richart Keller (richart.kellergmail.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:33:04 -0800 (PST)
Hi all

A word of caution about sound-deadening acoustics:

When you are considering acoustics in the common house, make sure that you
have included provisions for concerts if you think that you might want to
include music as a potential use.  In particular, don't expect to rely on
electronic amplification for all types of music.  Some kinds of music,
particularly chamber music (string quartets, etc.) or even acoustic folk
sound much better in a resonant room--without external amplification.  Also,
it is easier for the musicians hear each other while they play--important
for sound balance and for a well-integrated ensemble.  A sound-dead room is
not likely to attract professional quality musicians in those genres.

Rick



Richart Keller, AICP
Pioneer Valley Cohousing
120 Pulpit Hill Road #25
Amherst, MA 01002
413-835-0011
401 486-2677 (cell)
(richart.keller [at] gmail.com)


-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Kelly [mailto:kksantacruz [at] gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 4:34 PM
To: Cohousing-L
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Acoustics in common house



Hi Melanie,
This sounds great and affordable! Do you have pictures posted somewhere? It
would be great to see how it looks. Thanks, Kathy Santa Cruz, CA

On Sat, Feb 18, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Melanie Mindlin <sassetta [at] mind.net> wrote:

>
> There are a number of ways recommended to dampen the noise in the 
> common house.  Rugs, for example, would help a lot but of course we 
> want to be able to do easy clean up in the dining area so they are not 
> appropriate.  We tried pieces of rug glued under the tables, which 
> didn't make much difference and came unglued.
>
> Then we saw some lovely homemade acoustic panels in the common house 
> of our nearby cohousing community in Bend, Oregon.  These are about 
> 30" square (the exact size is not important) made out of 2x2 wood with 
> some light canvas type cloth stretched over the frame and filled with 
> blue-jean insulation batts on the top.  These are hung from short 
> chains (about 2-3"
> long) from hooks in the ceiling.  They are in a regular pattern with a
> couple of inches between the panels and can be taken down for cleaning if
> necessary.  We made them ourselves over several community workdays.
>
> We are quite pleases with the results.  Not only are they attractive, 
> but they really work.  Since we did all the work ourselves the cost 
> was very reasonable and they're out of the way where nobody has to 
> bother with them.  It was a little tricky working around our existing 
> light fixtures, but we calculated the whole pattern and size of panels 
> ahead of time to fit around them.
>
> Melanie Mindlin
> Ashland Cohousing Community
>
> Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Holly McNutt <holly.mcnutt [at] gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C-L]_ exclusive dinners vs community dinners- Mary Ann
> > To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> > Message-ID: <E81F6155-038F-4568-951B-266EE24C18DA [at] gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;     charset=us-ascii
> >
> > Mary Ann - If/when you find some good noise abatement solutions, 
> > pleas
> let me know Thanks, Holly
> >
> > Visionary Properties
> > www.visionaryproperties.vpweb.com
> > holly.mcnutt [at] gmail.com
> > (303) 447-2339 direct
> > (303) 517-4180 cell
> > (303) 447-8204 fax
> _________________________________________________________________
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