| Acoustic Items |
Old Halls |
New Halls |
| i) Materials Used |
The acoustic materials used in the old churches were mainly stones, Mud and Bricks. These items were the wall materials for the Halls but had ability to absorb and control sound as well. |
The new Halls are mainly built of blocks and concrete, and padded with sound insulation/absorptive materials, Sound barriers and Reflectors, e.g. acoustic foam panels. |
| ii) Design and Materials Application Techniques |
The shapes of Halls of the past were mainly rectangular irrespective of the capacity. They also had curved ceiling shapes. Materials application techniques were crude as opposed to technology aided application techniques of today. |
The new Halls come with varieties of shapes depending on size and capacity of the Hall, e.g. semi-circular shape, Hexagonal shapes, sloppy floors and ceilings, etc..Materials application techniques are technology aided and of high quality. |
| iii) Quality and Durability of Materials Used |
Materials were largely very natural with little or no proper industrial chemical treatments to improve their quality and prolong life span. |
Materials are of quality and durable as they are mostly factory treated with a guaranteed life span. |
| iv) Materials Functionality in terms of Sound control and Amplification |
Materials were to some extent performing well, but were largely limited by the quality of production and installation. |
They perform better due to due to well calculated architectural designs, the use of microphones, loudspeakers to amplify and control sound. They use HVAC (Heat, ventilation, and air-conditioning) technology for comfort. |
| v) Aesthetics of Materials Used |
Walls were mostly bare with little or no decorative touches, and where it existed was old fashioned. |
The new Halls are better decorated and comfortable as some of the acoustic materials also serve as decorative elements. |
