Notification
Select Country
Confirm Submission
Are you sure want to adding all Products to your Library?
Contact Detail
04 Jul 2025 by Rockfon
Founded in 1976, Omroep Brabant is the regional public broadcaster for the North Brabant province in the Netherlands. In 2024, the interior design and architecture firm TenBrasWestinga renovated three floors of its Eindhoven headquarters, undertaking a much-needed transformation of the existing spaces into contemporary, human-centric offices. For their design concept, TenBrasWestinga drew inspiration from the region’s natural landscape, using it as a "colourful mosaic" to define the palette and materiality.
Featured products Rockfon Color-all, 600 x 600 - Rockfon Color-all, 1200 x 600
Office acoustics were a key priority – particularly in the recording studios – leading to the installation of Rockfon Color-all and Rockfon Blanka ceiling tiles, both providing Class A acoustic performance. Installed by Element Breda, the ceilings feature exposed designs in some areas, while interplaying with the existing ductwork in others.
Featured products Rockfon Color-all, 1200 x 600
A Host of Interior Structural Changes
The renovation entailed significant structural changes. Interior walls were removed in various spaces, and new windows were added to increase natural daylight penetration. On the first floor, double metal stud walls were installed, acoustically decoupled from each other.
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
“What could be saved has been saved. Existing walls were retained where possible. The old glass façades and soundproof doors were reused within new configurations, and no plaster was applied", explains Iwan Petersen, project leader at Element Breda.
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
The different rooms are colourful and material-rich "without being lavish", according to the design studio. In one of the meeting rooms, seventies-style prints across the walls and a two-tone ceiling create a playful effect. Natural greenery, maintained by an external company, injects brightness and completes a biophilic office approach.
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
The Dynamism of Exposed Ceiling Design
Omroep Brabant set ambitious requirements for acoustics, particularly considering their broadcasting needs. “We proposed various Rockfon ceiling tiles with the highest possible sound absorption value", explains Rockfon Area Sales Manager Corné van Meer. "This is expressed with an Alpha W value. The Rockfon ceiling tiles selected have an Alpha W that is between 0.95 and 1.00".
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
A total of 1000 square metres of Rockfon Blanka premium white ceiling tiles and 370 square metres of Rockfon Color-all tiles in Charcoal were installed throughout the headquarters – optimising comfort across the editorial, recording, editing studios and perfecting meeting room acoustics.
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
Since the existing pipes and air ducts had to be retained, installing the office ceilings presented unique challenges. However, the exposed pipes and ductwork, painted in various colours, created compelling industrial design looks that change from room to room, allowing for a dynamic journey throughout the spaces.
Featured products Rockfon Blanka, 600 x 600 - Rockfon® Blanka, 1200 x 600
In some spaces, bright-orange exposed pipes contrast against the black suspended ceilings, creating a bold visual effect. In a meeting room, the air treatment systems were painted white, resulting in a sleek, modern aesthetic. In circulation spaces, Rockfon Color-all acoustic ceiling tiles in Charcoal were directly glued to the soffit without a grid, creating a seamless ceiling appearance.
Featured products Rockfon Color-all, 600 x 600 - Rockfon Color-all, 1200 x 600
The Rockfon Blanka white ceiling tiles, with their smooth, deep matte surfaces, offer high light reflection and diffusion, contributing to energy savings and a bright, comfortable indoor environment. At Omroep Brabant, they were installed in various configurations and edge types – some as floating raft ceilings, while others spanned the full perimeter of rooms.
Featured products Rockfon Color-all, 600 x 600 - Rockfon Color-all, 1200 x 600
Besides their Class A acoustic performance, the Rockfon ceiling solutions were selected for their closed-loop recyclability, durability, and Cradle to Cradle certification. "We opted for as much reuse as possible, supplemented with circular products that are sustainable in terms of production, maintenance, and lifespan", explains TenBrasWestinga director Maaike Westinga.
We had to "embroider" the ceilings and walls around the existing pipes. The challenge here is primarily access. Naturally, installing around something is going to be more complicated than working in an empty space.
"Embroidering" Bulkhead Ceilings
In the open space working areas, Rockfon Blanka ceiling tiles were installed in bulkhead configurations. “Imagine this situation: We had to 'embroider' the ceilings and walls around the existing pipes. The challenge here is primarily access. Naturally, installing around something is going to be more complicated than when working in an empty space. We had to carefully consider where the suspension points needed to be placed”.
The pipes also posed an acoustic challenge. “The seal between the walls, ceilings, and the existing installation ducts needs to be efficient. Otherwise, sound leaks can compromise acoustic performance, among other things”.
To overcome this, the grids were first lifted to allow for the installation of concealed hanging systems. This enabled the team to install quick hangers before raising the ceiling to its final height. They then lowered the air handling units again so that the ceiling tiles can fit perfectly. Overall, approximately two hundred metres of coves were installed across the three floors.
"It is rewarding to see the final result. Initially, it was difficult to visualise, but now that the rooms are furnished, I can see the full picture", concludes Iwan Petersen. And when asked for their feedback on the acoustic environment, Omroep Brabant employees described it as "a world of difference" compared to the pre-renovation environment.
Location: Son en Breugel, Netherlands
Architect: Architectenbureau TenBrasWestinga, Amersfoort
Contractor: Bouwbedrijf Boot, Breda
Installer: Element Breda Afbouw, Breda
Photographer: Lucas van der Wee
Tiles: Rockfon Color-all®, Rockfon® Blanka
Dimensions: 600 x 600, 1200 x 600
Australia
Indonesia
Malaysia
New Zealand
Philippines
Singapore
