The Challenge: A “Large Sound Box”
The modern farmhouse villa was breathtakingly beautiful and exceptionally detailed — thanks in part to the client’s architectural background. However, all these beautiful materials together created a major problem: the house acted as a large sound box.
This became most noticeable when sitting at the dining table in the open-plan living area, a space that flows seamlessly into the rest of the modern home. Although it looked stunning, it was almost impossible to have a normal conversation together.
The Specialist Solution
The client was looking for a solution to poor acoustics but wasn’t keen on traditional wallpaper, mainly because of the visible seams and the lack of sufficient acoustic performance. Wall covering, a technique in which woven fabric is stretched over the wall, provided a way to achieve a stronger acoustic effect.
Craftsmanship and Precision
Solving the acoustic problem in this home required exceptional craftsmanship. Marcel Lebesque began with the end wall in the living area — a wall that was no less than 7 to 8 metres high.
The process is highly specialised and precise:
- Preparation: Battens were installed along the contours of the wall to create an acoustic and insulating air layer. A layer of molton (thick felt) was added to enhance acoustic performance and ensure a more refined finish.
- Workshop Work: The fabric was prepared and stitched in the atelier. The entire wall was meticulously measured beforehand. Due to the wall’s height, it had to be covered with several fabric panels, with the seams joined blindly and positioned with exact precision — for instance, directly above a door.
- Extreme Detailing: The greatest technical challenge was the presence of a void/mezzanine. The fabric had to be stretched around it in a unique way, requiring an exact seam placement in the middle where the fabric pieces met edge to edge without visible stitching.
- Installation: The fabric was stretched tightly and followed the contours of the wall perfectly.
Applying wall covering at this level is rare craftsmanship; it’s estimated that only about five specialists in the Netherlands are capable of executing this technique.
The Result
The end result appeared flawless — one might almost think the wall had been painted. The chosen subtle fabric blended in seamlessly, matching the client’s wish for discretion.
The most important success, however, was the acoustic improvement. The client confirmed that the result was simply perfect and that no further acoustic measures were needed.