Quiet That Complements Design

• Case Studies

How to Make a Glass Pavilion Sound as Good as It Looks

Perched on the cliffs of Muriwai, The Jewel Box at Parihoa is a striking glass pavilion designed for intimate events, wellness retreats, and creative workshops. With panoramic sea views and retractable glass walls, the space offers an immersive connection to its natural surroundings. But while glass and concrete create stunning architecture, they also bring one of the biggest challenges in design: echo. When sound reflects off hard surfaces, conversations blur, speech becomes tiring, and calm disappears. The question was simple: how do you make a glass box not echoey? The Challenge The beauty of minimalism can often work against good acoustics. With floor-to-ceiling glass, polished concrete, and open volumes, The Jewel Box had nowhere for sound to be absorbed. The key challenges were: Excessive reverberation from reflective glass and concrete. Poor speech clarity during group sessions and events. Maintaining the minimalist aesthetic without visual clutter. Integrating seamlessly with lighting and retractable wall systems. The design team needed a solution that controlled sound without compromising architecture. The Solution: dbBatten™ To solve the echo issue, the team specified dbBatten™, a modular linear acoustic system that enhances both form and function. Installed between existing light tracks, the battens transformed unused ceiling space into an elegant acoustic treatment that blended with the building’s structure. Key features of the solution: Architectural integration: Each dbBatten was aligned perfectly with the lighting grid for a clean, built-in appearance. ReadyClip™ mounting system: Allowed a glue-free, reversible installation with no odours or surface damage, and panels can be easily reconfigured in the future. Acoustic performance: Designed to absorb mid-to-high frequencies, dbBatten targets the range that affects speech clarity most in hard-surfaced spaces. The finished ceiling looks intentional, sculptural, and perfectly balanced. The Result After installation, The Jewel Box transformed from an echoey, reverberant space into one that feels calm, clear, and comfortable. Conversations are crisp, background noise is softened, and the overall ambience is more inviting. The results have been exceptional — the transformation has already been showcased during several high-profile events, including the Partridge x Cartier event, where guests experienced the space’s clarity and elegance firsthand. Benefits delivered: Dramatically reduced echo and reverberation. Improved speech clarity and comfort for events and retreats. Seamless ceiling integration that maintains architectural purity. Sustainable, reversible installation with no adhesives or VOCs. What was once an acoustic challenge is now a beautifully balanced space that sounds as refined as it looks. Why It Matters Modern architecture increasingly celebrates glass, concrete, and openness. But as The Jewel Box shows, stunning spaces also deserve sound that matches their visual serenity. Acoustic design doesn’t have to be hidden; it can enhance a space’s rhythm and identity when thoughtfully integrated. If you’ve ever wondered how to fix echo in a glass room or how to stop sound bouncing around in minimalist spaces, dbBatten™ provides a design-led, proven solution. Next Read Discover how multi-level atriums can overcome the challenge of sound travelling across floors, and how dbsorb turned this acoustic issue into a sculptural focal point so refined that most people wouldn’t even know it’s there for sound control. Read the full case study here: AIA Acoustic Atrium Feature Wall.

• Case Studies

Creating calm, clarity and community through acoustic design

Echo is a common challenge in pilates, yoga, dance, and fitness studios. Movement Pilates Karaka transformed their echoey open space with dbsorb’s QuietKit Solo ceiling panels, creating a calm, focused environment. Read how modular, ceiling-mounted acoustic panels improve clarity, reduce reverberation, and integrate seamlessly into studio design.

• Acoustic Insights

How to Meet New Zealand’s Classroom DQLS Acoustic Standards

Enhance classroom acoustics with dbsorb’s modular, removable wall panels. Perfect for new builds, modular classrooms, and renovations, these DQLS-compliant solutions reduce reverberation, improve speech clarity, and integrate seamlessly into learning environments.

• Acoustic Insights

Why Every Classroom Needs Acoustic Panels for Learning

Flexible wall, ceiling, and baffle solutions reduce reverberation, improve speech clarity, and integrate seamlessly into school interiors, all while supporting DQLS standards and modular classroom designs.

• Case Studies

Creating Acoustic Comfort with a Natural Touch in a Retirement Village

At Orewa Sands Senior Living, dbsorb created a timber-look acoustic ceiling that blends natural warmth with high-performance sound control. Designed for clarity, comfort, and sustainability, this feature demonstrates how retirement communities can integrate acoustics seamlessly, offering architects a compelling alternative to traditional timber or aluminium battens.

How to Make a Glass Pavilion Sound as Good as It Looks

Perched on the cliffs of Muriwai, The Jewel Box at Parihoa is a striking glass pavilion designed for intimate events, wellness retreats, and creative workshops. With panoramic sea views and retractable glass walls, the space offers an immersive connection to its natural surroundings. But while glass and concrete create stunning architecture, they also bring one of the biggest challenges in design: echo. When sound reflects off hard surfaces, conversations blur, speech becomes tiring, and calm disappears. The question was simple: how do you make a glass box not echoey? The Challenge The beauty of minimalism can often work against good acoustics. With floor-to-ceiling glass, polished concrete, and open volumes, The Jewel Box had nowhere for sound to be absorbed. The key challenges were: Excessive reverberation from reflective glass and concrete. Poor speech clarity during group sessions and events. Maintaining the minimalist aesthetic without visual clutter. Integrating seamlessly with lighting and retractable wall systems. The design team needed a solution that controlled sound without compromising architecture. The Solution: dbBatten™ To solve the echo issue, the team specified dbBatten™, a modular linear acoustic system that enhances both form and function. Installed between existing light tracks, the battens transformed unused ceiling space into an elegant acoustic treatment that blended with the building’s structure. Key features of the solution: Architectural integration: Each dbBatten was aligned perfectly with the lighting grid for a clean, built-in appearance. ReadyClip™ mounting system: Allowed a glue-free, reversible installation with no odours or surface damage, and panels can be easily reconfigured in the future. Acoustic performance: Designed to absorb mid-to-high frequencies, dbBatten targets the range that affects speech clarity most in hard-surfaced spaces. The finished ceiling looks intentional, sculptural, and perfectly balanced. The Result After installation, The Jewel Box transformed from an echoey, reverberant space into one that feels calm, clear, and comfortable. Conversations are crisp, background noise is softened, and the overall ambience is more inviting. The results have been exceptional — the transformation has already been showcased during several high-profile events, including the Partridge x Cartier event, where guests experienced the space’s clarity and elegance firsthand. Benefits delivered: Dramatically reduced echo and reverberation. Improved speech clarity and comfort for events and retreats. Seamless ceiling integration that maintains architectural purity. Sustainable, reversible installation with no adhesives or VOCs. What was once an acoustic challenge is now a beautifully balanced space that sounds as refined as it looks. Why It Matters Modern architecture increasingly celebrates glass, concrete, and openness. But as The Jewel Box shows, stunning spaces also deserve sound that matches their visual serenity. Acoustic design doesn’t have to be hidden; it can enhance a space’s rhythm and identity when thoughtfully integrated. If you’ve ever wondered how to fix echo in a glass room or how to stop sound bouncing around in minimalist spaces, dbBatten™ provides a design-led, proven solution. Next Read Discover how multi-level atriums can overcome the challenge of sound travelling across floors, and how dbsorb turned this acoustic issue into a sculptural focal point so refined that most people wouldn’t even know it’s there for sound control. Read the full case study here: AIA Acoustic Atrium Feature Wall.

Creating calm, clarity and community through acoustic design

Echo is a common challenge in pilates, yoga, dance, and fitness studios. Movement Pilates Karaka transformed their echoey open space with dbsorb’s QuietKit Solo ceiling panels, creating a calm, focused environment. Read how modular, ceiling-mounted acoustic panels improve clarity, reduce reverberation, and integrate seamlessly into studio design.

How to Meet New Zealand’s Classroom DQLS Acoustic Standards

Enhance classroom acoustics with dbsorb’s modular, removable wall panels. Perfect for new builds, modular classrooms, and renovations, these DQLS-compliant solutions reduce reverberation, improve speech clarity, and integrate seamlessly into learning environments.

Why Every Classroom Needs Acoustic Panels for Learning

Flexible wall, ceiling, and baffle solutions reduce reverberation, improve speech clarity, and integrate seamlessly into school interiors, all while supporting DQLS standards and modular classroom designs.

Creating Acoustic Comfort with a Natural Touch in a Retirement Village

At Orewa Sands Senior Living, dbsorb created a timber-look acoustic ceiling that blends natural warmth with high-performance sound control. Designed for clarity, comfort, and sustainability, this feature demonstrates how retirement communities can integrate acoustics seamlessly, offering architects a compelling alternative to traditional timber or aluminium battens.

Sculptural Acoustics for an Atrium Feature Wall in a Shared Office

In Auckland’s newest shared workplace, the atrium needed more than just a visual statement. dbsorb and Jasmax created a dynamic feature wall of dbFin acoustic baffles that shifts with every viewpoint. Designed with zero waste and recycled content, the installation proves that acoustic solutions can be both sustainable and sculptural - a precedent for architects rethinking the role of acoustics in design.

A Living Building Challenge Fit-out Inside a Heritage Landmark

Inside Wellington’s historic Old Bank Arcade, Meridian Energy’s HQ combines heritage character with cutting-edge sustainability. dbsorb supplied demountable, reusable acoustic panels that meet zero-glue and ultra-low VOC requirements, enabling circular design, high-performance acoustics, and future adaptability in a Living Building Challenge-certified workspace.

Panels to Placemaking: Elevating Function into Experience

At Fonterra’s new Hamilton headquarters, acoustics weren’t treated as an afterthought. Using dbsorb's dbPrint™ on Decosorb panels, cultural storytelling and brand identity were embedded directly into the walls. The result is a workplace where sound control feels invisible - acoustic panels that read as art, not add-ons.