“We suggested opening the space up vertically and revealing historic features such as the original pillars and arches, so that visitors could move around the trading floor, while giving the spaces a contemporary look and feel”, explains the architect Kristian Hüsen. In this context, the main challenge was the low ceilings. This was solved by installing Texaa’s Stereo Air open-mesh panels. “We didn’t want to clutter the ceiling with lights, smoke detectors, air vents, grids, etc.”, he continues. “All these items are installed in the ceiling cavity that is uniformly covered with the lovely, soft texture of the Stereo Air open-mesh panels, which contrast nicely with the hard surfaces of the walls and floors. This creates a feeling of wellbeing, making the space feel very cosy. And the delicate scattering of the light through the Nacre-coloured mesh gives the ceiling a very pleasant sense of perspective. It was the ideal solution to stick to our design. In fact, it helped us define it. And its ease of installation in a confined, listed building was a real advantage.” Although noise was not a major concern in this project, the architect cites the panels’ absorption coefficient as “an extra benefit”, which secured his client’s choice of Stereo Air, adding with a smile, “Once the translucent ceiling was installed and the quality of the living area became obvious, he was really convinced!” A sentiment shared by the place’s visitors too.
