Challenge

This 230㎡ community pottery studio and gallery in inner Auckland, New Zealand, includes wheel throwing stations, a glazing workshop, a gallery shop and a small classroom. The high concrete ceiling, tiled floors and brick workbenches create noticeable reverberation. Pottery wheels, trimming tools, spray booths and class instruction noise overlap, making teaching hard and increasing student distraction. Clay dust and constant moisture require acoustic materials that are non-shedding, wipeable and dimensionally stable in humid environments.

Solution

The full studio and gallery ceiling is fitted with high-density inorganic fiberglass acoustic ceiling tiles. The dense hardened surface resists moisture absorption and clay dust buildup, supports regular wipe-down cleaning, and efficiently absorbs reflected noise across the high open space. Side walls in the workshop and classroom zones use perforated acoustic panels with mineral wool backing, tuned to target mid-frequency wheel and tool noise. Panels have smooth, easy-clean faces suitable for a dusty, wet pottery environment.

All materials meet AS/NZS fire safety standards and are non-particulate / fiber-shed free, meeting art studio hygiene requirements. Construction was completed during holiday breaks to avoid disrupting classes and workshop sessions.

Result

Ambient noise in the main production area drops by an estimated 39%, falling within comfortable levels for extended making sessions. Instructor voice clarity improves significantly, and students report less distraction from adjacent workstations. The smooth ceiling and perforated panels hold up well to daily clay dust and moisture exposure.