SonaSpray Eco+ acoustic ceiling spray in ‘Downstairs at dMFK’ (all photos by Ed Reeve).
At 76 Charlotte Street, dMFK Architects has carved out a new kind of workspace beneath their Fitzrovia headquarters. One that blurs the lines between studio, showroom and event space. The 2,000 sq. ft basement, once a recording room for Channel Four, has been reimagined as ‘Downstairs at dMFK’: a flexible environment for focused work, corporate hospitality and a ‘Materials Lab’ living sample library for its specifiers.
Covering the ceiling, is a finish you won’t currently find anywhere else. This is the first installation of SonaSpray Eco+ from Oscar Acoustics – a product made from recycled newspapers and other rapidly renewable materials that’s rewriting the rules for sustainable acoustic performance.
A ceiling with a narrative of its own
When you’re ‘Downstairs at dMFK’, remember to look up to discover traces of yesterday’s news. Rather than masking its origins, SonaSpray Eco+ embraces them as its seamless spray transforms old headlines into a modern, high-performance acoustic finish.
Fragments of text catch the light. The natural grey colour shifts in tone depending on the stories, photos and adverts of the newspapers used. The texture also tells its own story, varying with how many times the individual pages have been recycled, making every application of SonaSpray Eco+ different, and every ceiling unique.
Two organisations, one goal
When dMFK set out to transform its HQ basement space, it was looking to create a flexible contemporary workspace, supporting the shifting patterns of modern working life. The collaboration between the two companies first began on the floors above, where dMFK previously used SonaSpray K-13 Special for its main offices. After its success, the SonaSpray range has quickly become dMFK’s go-to for acoustic finishes that blend seamlessly with its designs.
For this basement transformation, Oscar proposed SonaSpray Eco+. The collaboration gave dMFK exclusive early access to an acoustic innovation that helps advance sustainable design. In return, it gave Oscar Acoustics real-world testing alongside one of the industry’s most forward-thinking architectural and interiors practices, and a showcase for its future-ready acoustic finish.
Sound tailored to shifting uses
By day, Downstairs at dMFK is used as a workspace. Its warm lighting, acoustic ambience and carefully zoned layout supporting periods of focus and collaboration alike. As evening settles, the mood shifts. The same space becomes an events venue, hosting roundtables, suppers or even full- volume parties powered by a D&B Audiotechnik sound system inherited from Spiritland at the Royal Festival Hall. Across these changing uses, the acoustic performance of SonaSpray Eco+ proves central creating an almost studio-like, soft acoustic quality throughout.
Living alongside product innovation
Here, SonaSpray Eco+ is being experienced, tested and lived by the people who are shaping the future of design. The project demonstrates how seamless acoustic sprays can be absorbed into the rhythms of everyday practice. Designers working in the space live with the finish daily, its appearance, sound quality and tactility becoming part of daily office life.
Julian de Metz, dMFK Architects founder, said, “SonaSpray is our go to acoustic ceiling application. The transformation from boomy to intimate is instant once the product is applied and the calmness of the space is something that people always comment on. At ‘Downstairs’, Oscar Acoustics wanted to try using Eco+ which incorporates recycled newspapers which are apparent if you look up close, but overall has a beautiful, textured look. We are delighted with it.”
Downstairs at dMFK demonstrates what’s possible when organisations commit to pushing boundaries together, when sustainability, user comfort and aesthetics aren’t seen as separate, and when the story of a material’s origins becomes part of its appeal.
To find out how SonaSpray can transform your next project visit:
www.oscar-acoustics.com
Email: mail@oscar-acoustics.co.uk
Telephone: 01474 854902
