Clerkenwell Design Week – Clerkenwell House of Detention, London
Clerkenwell House of Detention, London
The brief
Acoustics by Design was appointed to transform the historic Clerkenwell House of Detention (built in 1616) into a functional, acoustically comfortable venue for Clerkenwell Design Week 2025. The building’s dramatic brick arches and vaulted ceilings provided an atmospheric backdrop for lighting exhibitors and a programme of talks. However, those same architectural features created significant reverberation and clarity challenges.
Retaining the visual integrity of the 17th-century brickwork and arches was paramount, so any solution had to avoid intrusive fixings or bulky treatments. At the same time, the high, curved ceilings and exposed masonry formed a lively acoustic environment that threatened to undermine speech intelligibility during presentations. Our task was to devise a discreet approach that controlled the sound without detracting from the venue’s architectural character.
Absorption products included
The Solution
To address the unique requirements of this Grade II–listed venue, we began by assessing the space, identifying key reflection points and listening to how voices carried across the vaulted hall. Armed with that insight, we knew it made sense to treat the vertical wall sections between the brick arches rather than cover large expanses of masonry.
We specified ReSorb Niva panels in a subtle grey finish, whose slimline, three-dimensional profile allowed them to sit flush against the brickwork. From a distance, these panels almost disappeared into the neutral palette of the venue, preserving the historic charm while still taming unwanted echoes.