Neapoli Melbourne
The challenges
An excessively noisy bar or restaurant can ruin a good night out. Straining to hear conversations and asking people to repeat themselves is no fun. The owners of Neapoli in Melbourne wanted to create a venue that was different. They wanted their restaurant to be known for its comfort and appeal, where patrons could enjoy excellent food, fine wine, have a good conversation and come back often with their friends. After finding a great location, the owners could see noise was likely to be a problem. The construction materials were predominantly glass and concrete; materials that cause sound to bounce around and make a space ‘noisy’.
The venue was a typical example of where sound absorption needed to be introduced.
The solutions
Pyrotek® estimated that, if the space was left untreated, the reverberation time would be a very lively 2.9 seconds which is roughly three times more than the Australian Standard’s recommended reverberation time for restaurants. This could be significantly reduced by installing suitable soundproofing treatment. Reapor is specifically designed to absorb noise energy and reduce reverberation. Produced primarily from recycled glass, Reapor is non-combustible and does not breakdown over time.
The panels were easily fitted and can be cut and shaped with standard woodworking tools. Installed as a ceiling liner and along one side wall alongside the staircase, Reapor maintained the industrial look the owners wanted and allow a better atmosphere for patrons.
The results
After installing as little as 70 m² of panels, the Reverberation Time averaged a very comfortable 0.43 seconds; a dramatic improvement, meaning patrons no longer need to raise their voices.
The installation of Reapor has greatly enhanced the dining experience for patrons of Neapoli and has led to many positive reviews about dining experiences on public blogging sites such as Urbanspoon.
S. Hannigan (online review 2013) posted this review:
“I was actually pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar…it has a good atmosphere without being too noisy (a bug-bear of mine)”
Danielle (online review 2014) posted another positive review: “Great find in CBD location. Cool interior in a quiet location in the heart of the city. I could not fault the food, service or atmosphere. Will definitely be back.
Pyrotek® provided a seamless solution to improve the atmosphere at Neapoli which has been recognised by patrons and the owners. It has become the venue they wanted; a place with minimal sound disturbance, where friends can relax and easily hear their own conversations.
