Until recently, they did not attract our attention. They had a mainly technical function. In contemporary architecture, suspended ceilings are becoming an integral part of interior design, proving that they can not only mask technical installations, but become a design instrument that organises space, improves comfort and determines first impressions. Through a variety of materials, acoustic solutions and the integration of technology, they can simultaneously cancel out noise, direct light and create a recognisable interior character. We have selected a few buildings in which the ceilings are like a fifth wall – functional and beautiful. How should they be designed? This is what the invited experts tell us.
The evolution of ceiling thinking resembles a shift from a neutral background to an active design layer. Smooth, white tiles are now being replaced by compositions of wood, metal, acoustic fabrics and perforated mineral elements. As a result, the ceiling can provide character, guide the perception of space and perform functional functions that were once only expected of walls or floors. In practice, this means that the ceiling becomes an equal part of the interior design.
A ceiling tailored to the user
A well-designed ceiling can change the use of a space. In classrooms, its shape and materials promote concentration and reduce reverberation; in open-plan spaces, they help define work zones and reduce noise; in conference centres, they improve speech intelligibility; and in medical facilities, raw, easily disinfectable solutions raise the hygiene standard.
A well-designed ceiling can be the boundary between a mediocre and an excellent interior – both visually and functionally, says Anna Baczkowska, Knauf Ceiling Solutions. An example is the interior of High School No. 163 in Warsaw. The architects at Plus3-Architekci used wood wool to visually warm the modern interior and dampen excess noise.
Materials, colour and light build the mood
Modern ceilings are a field for experimenting with multi-materials: warm wood cladding balances the severity of metal, mineral panels work with acoustic fabrics, and perforations and textures modulate sound dissipation. Colour and the play with light allow designers to construct the identity of a place and regulate the experience of a space – from intimate cafes to representative lobbies.
Architects are increasingly treating the ceiling as a fifth wall – consciously using its potential to create the identity of a place, adds the Knauf Ceiling Solutions expert. In the Café Südwärts in Bremerhaven, Germany. Architects from GfG Gruppe für Gestaltung laid METAL Baffle Elements panels to create a three-dimensional mosaic. Hidden points of light between the panels make the ceiling reminiscent of the night sky. This treatment did not happen by chance. The café is located in the Klimahaus science centre, where you can experience a simulated voyage around the world, like a scientist on a research vessel heading for Antarctica.
The ceiling discussed in the visual aspect becomes an integral element of the interior composition. It can emphasise the character of the space, introduce rhythm through divisions or lighting, and create a mood through appropriately selected colours or materials. We are increasingly using solutions in which the ceiling becomes the dominant feature, e.g. in public or commercial spaces, where it is supposed to create a ‘wow’ effect and make a lasting impression ,” explains Adrian Ziubiński Managing Director Concept Space.
Technology and sustainable design
Ceilings are no longer just a finishing layer; they have become technological platforms. Integrating acoustic elements with cooling, ventilation and building automation systems makes it possible to design a ceiling that ‘works’ for the comfort of its users: it reduces noise, helps manage daylight and improves thermal conditions. These solutions facilitate the achievement of BREEAM, LEED or WELL standards, making the ceiling part of a sustainable building strategy. Their full potential was exploited by RPP Architects Ltd / Hawkins Architects, who are behind the design of the Queen’s University building in Belfast. Acoustically friendly ceilings appeared in the lecture theatres, and the main hall was decorated with Cellio’s METAL Grill openwork ceiling. Its form corresponds with the architecture of the building and is a perfect example of the aforementioned fifth wall. The solution proved ideal and made it possible to conceal the university’s numerous technical elements.
It is in the ceiling that we run ventilation, air-conditioning, electrical or fire protection systems. This requires a great deal of design precision and coordination with the trades. In the ideal design, we manage to integrate all these elements in such a way that the user sees only a clean and consistent surface, with all the technology operating discreetly in the background,” adds Adrian Ziubiński.
Heads up! That’s where the magic happens
Whether we are in a shopping centre, an airport, a restaurant or a school, the ceilings above our heads always perform a specific function. When designing the interior of a building, architects come up with solutions to suit the specifics of the space and the needs of the user, and working on the arrangement of the fifth wall can often be more difficult than designing floors or ordinary walls.
The ceiling design process is always a balancing act between three aspects: visual, acoustic and technical. We start by understanding the function of the room and the client’s expectations, then work on the detailing and the material, and finally work out the technical solutions. The key is dialogue. Both with the client and with the engineers or contractors. In this way, the ceiling becomes not only an aesthetic backdrop, but also an important element which has a real impact on the comfort and perception of the space,’ explains Adrian Ziubiński.
A good example of this is the Univerexport supermarket in Novi Sad, Serbia, where the ceiling combines the aspects indicated, bringing to the fore the feature desired for that part of the facility. In the customer area, for example, it usually emphasises its decorative role. Architect Djordje Bajilo combined expanded metal ceiling panels – MESH Board – with METAL R-H 200 panels in different colours to create a wave effect.
The ceiling has ceased to be an incidental element of the interior and has become an integral part of the space that influences the experience of the people below it. When designers consider it as part of the concept from the earliest stage, solutions emerge that combine aesthetics with technical performance, user comfort and sustainable building requirements. It’s an investment in a better experience of space that works to the benefit of both users and facility owners.
source: Knauf Ceiling Solutions https://knauf.com
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