External Case Study

Case Study

Anechoic Chamber, South Bank University London 

This room is designed to harness total silence. 

Although when talking about this space we cannot simplify it in such simple terms. Consider spending a long period of time in a space that cuts out 99% of all sound, every sound that was previously unnoticed would slowly become apparent. The beating of your heart, the sounds of breathing in and out, the movement of blood flowing through your body, the growing ringing within your ears. 

You would become so aware of the existence of your body, each movement, each breathe, each thud of your heart as it pumps bloody throughout your body, keeping you alive. 

The purpose of this space is to stimulate idealised conditions, mainly involving research. 

“I want to get out”

The elimination of sound is achieved by a "box in a box" construction technique. The walls are constructed with a concrete and are thicker than normal, the internal walls are lined with 70cm long foam wedges/spikes that absorb sound, this is then mounted on springs to insure minimal to no transmission of vibration. This is then on a floor that is made from a metal grill, that allows up to 1000kg to be measured. The main reason for this is so the researchers are able to measure the levels of sound power. 

Many people have experienced this space, the longest time a participant has been able to stay in the room is 1 hour and 7 minutes. Rio Fredricka (participant) explained that it is extremely difficult to stay in this space. She experienced an intense headache, ringing of the ears, panic attacks, disorientation, and the extreme panic that the outside world had forgotten about him. Rio had no contact with the outside world so therefore had no concept of time. 

She explained she felt that she had superpowers "i have anechoic power" and that “I want to get out”