An open-plan school balancing group work and quiet study
How LLP Arkitektkontor balanced sound in an open-plan Passive House school so different activities can share one space.
Rockfon Blanka Activity in the corridor, absorbing sound in a busy, high-traffic route through the school.
A ‘Passive House’ school built for open learning
Adolfsberg School in Knivsta, Sweden, opened in 2018 as the town's second certified ‘Passive House’ school, a building designed to use very little energy. LLP Arkitektkontor built it to international Passive House standards, with sustainability, a compact form and a good interior atmosphere all high on the list.
The way children learn here is open and flexible: group work and individual study happening side by side in the same spaces. That's exactly what makes the acoustics hard.
One open space, two very different needs
In an open-plan school, sound travels. Children need to work together in groups and concentrate alone, often in the same room, and teachers move around as they teach rather than staying at the front. Get the acoustics wrong and none of it works.
The team didn't just want to absorb all the sound. They wanted absorption and reflection working together, so that, for example, someone could give a talk near the staircase without a microphone while a study area close by stayed calm and quiet.
Project info
Project name
Adolfsberg School
Location
Knivsta, Sweden
Architecture
Installation
Photography
Ola Österling
Download images
A closer look at Rockfon Industrial Nature, its soft, natural surface fixed straight to the soffit.
Rockfon Industrial Nature follows the angled ceiling of a classroom, absorbing sound so pupils can concentrate.
Rockfon Industrial Nature along the angled hallway ceiling, keeping the space calm as pupils move through.
Industrial Nature, screwed straight to the soffit
The main ceilings use Rockfon Industrial Nature, fixed directly to the soffit with screws and washers, a simple, low-cost install. Its soft, natural-looking surface can be left on show or hidden behind other elements, and it brings Class A sound absorption and A1 fire safety. Wall absorbers and a textile mat made from recycled material were added to fine-tune the sound and keep dust down.
In the circulation and breakout areas, Rockfon Blanka Activity white tiles are used. The 40mm thickness handles low-frequency sound well, and the durable finish stands up to the wear of a busy school.
"In this open floor layout, the children must be able to work in groups as well as immerse themselves in individual study. The importance of acoustics in this regard cannot be overstated," said Mattias Palme, architect at LLP Arkitektkontor.
Rockfon Industrial Nature across the open atrium, controlling sound across the floors.
Rockfon Blanka Activity above a hallway seating area, keeping an informal seating spot quiet.
Adolfsberg School in Knivsta, the town's second certified Passive House school.
A shared and calm place to learn
Adolfsberg works the way the architects planned: group work, quiet study and teaching all sharing an open building without drowning each other out.
Also designing an open-plan school where very different activities have to share the same space? Get in touch, and we'll help you get the acoustic balance right.
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