The rise of the soundproofed garden room means musicians, DJs and party hounds can play their preferred genre at ear-bleed levels and not disrupt the peace and calm of the neighbours.
Lead pic: The Equipment Room, Austin, Texas, designed by Rios. Photo: Nick Simonite
Picture the scene. Your child comes home and says they want to learn the drums.
You smile. Inside, you recoil in horror at the noise levels you’re about to be subjected to, should you indulge this creative urge.
Most parents' first instinct would be to block and ignore the ask until the phase passes.
Now, instead, they’re investing in a soundproofed garden room that will block out the sound and keep them on good terms with the neighbours.
The reason is simple. Sound travels through the air in waves; those waves cause the objects they come into contact with to vibrate, explains John Sherry of Garden Rooms, who has supplied professional musicians such as Mark Feehily of Westlife, who had one in a home he owned in Dublin 4 while he sold techno DJ Dean Sherry an earlier iteration, a log cabin, years ago.
“When a sound is loud enough, those vibrations travel through walls, floors and ceilings, transferring sound to surrounding areas, which can be annoying for your neighbours.
"Trying to keep sound in is what most clients are looking for.”
Garden Rooms has done loads of recording studios, listening suites and music rooms.
Built in a way that minimises sound escaping while still preserving the highest finish and standards, it accounts for about 10 per cent of its business.
“Our buildings already have quite high acoustic standards and feature a minimum of 100 millimetres of earth wool in the walls.
"We double up on this for such sound suites,” he explains.
There is a special, blue-coloured plasterboard, Gyproc Soundbloc, available from builders' suppliers, that is an acoustically sound form of the material.
You can add thermally efficient foil back insulation, acoustic underlay, and even order acoustic glass.
It’s not just for kids, Sherry says, “Boomers, the first generation of teenagers, are now reaching retirement.
"They’re investing in themselves and getting to listen to their music. Whether they’re Stones or Beatles fans, these rooms give them a place to do that.”
Prices for his garden rooms start from about €40,000 for a 17 square metre space.
The additional soundproofing elements mentioned above will add three to four thousand euros to the overall bill.
The overall idea of a listening room or suite is also on the rise.
While in a residential setting, it makes sense to have this in a soundproofed space, the hospitality sector has also tapped into the trend.
In Austin, Texas, The Equipment Room is a bar that serves up vinyl records along with well-mixed cocktails.
The space is within the Hotel Magdalena, part of the Bunkhouse group and was designed by design, architecture, engineering and audio experts Rios, whose work in LA includes The Hollywood Bowl, Sony Music Publishing and Spotify’s campus at Mateo.
It also demonstrates the need for soft furnishings and sound-dampening materials such as wood.
Designers bring their own box of tricks.
They often layer rugs, upholstered seating, wood surfaces, and textiles that soften the edges of the room both visually and acoustically.
Lighting also plays a major role.
Listening rooms typically rely on warm, indirect lighting rather than bright overhead fixtures, creating an atmosphere that feels relaxed and intimate.
Invest in fabric seating
Stylish, compact, and effortlessly comfortable — the Cooper two-seat sofa is ideal for smaller living spaces.
Upholstered in a soothing green fabric with a smooth texture, deep foam cushions offer reliable support and sound dampening.
Extending to 186 cm by 90cm deep, it currently costs €879, down from €1,709 at EZ Living Interiors.
Invest in a set of good-looking speakers
The KEF LSX II is upgraded to deliver a more balanced sound in higher resolution with all-inclusive connectivity.
Upgraded to deliver a more balanced sound in higher resolution with all-inclusive connectivity.
Simply stream anything, including AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify and Tidal, or seamlessly connect the LSX II to your laptop, TV and many other devices.
The pair comes in amber, black or cotton white finishes and costs €1,199.00 from Hifi Hut.
Looks and sounds beautiful
The first release in German manufacturer Clearaudio’s new Celebrity series looks like no other turntable ever made.
Designed in conjunction with American jazz guitarist Al Di Meola, and based on a design shaped like a Gibson Les Paul.
The iconic electric guitar, favoured by Di Meola and countless jazz and rock musicians since its 1952 debut, informs everything from the model’s shape to its black or rosewood finish to its control layout.
Designed to monitor rotational speed and adjust for subtle variables such as stylus drag, belt fluctuations, and even temperature shifts.
One of a limited edition of 1,000 units that cost about €3,995 Cloney Audio has an ex-demo model in black selling for €2,995.
Vinyl storage
Having somewhere to keep your records is a big part of the overall look and feel of such a space. Built-in bins for the records is one way to go.
Many pros go for a library look, but all have a method to show off the current record on the turntable.
In smaller spaces, this Arden table with space for a record player and records below costs €235, excluding delivery, from Urban Outfitters.
