Project Background

This 280 sq m boutique sourdough bakery flagship in central Amsterdam faced harsh reverberation during peak hours, with espresso machines, oven fans and customer chatter overlapping to create a noisy, uncomfortable dining experience. Exposed brick, high joist ceilings and tiled surfaces amplified sound buildup. The project required natural-texture acoustic materials matching a rustic industrial aesthetic, with food-service grade grease and moisture resistance.

Acoustic Solution

Full-ceiling cement-bonded wood wool acoustic panels from the Wood Wool Ceiling Series are installed across the dining and production zones. The fine, uniform light-grey wood wool texture delivers NRC 0.80–0.90 broadband absorption while blending seamlessly with the exposed joist interior. The dense cement-bonded finish resists grease buildup, moisture and flour dust, and supports regular wipe-down cleaning, critical for food service operations. Panels are factory custom cut to fit the ceiling joist spacing, reducing on-site installation time and waste.

Project Outcomes

• Peak-hour ambient noise dropped by 35%
• Reverberation time reduced to 1.0–1.2 seconds
• Average customer dwell time increased by 24%
• Wood wool ceiling becomes a noted design feature, with most patrons unaware it is functional acoustic treatment