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doors, windows, glazing & hardware
rethinking urban living: the role of acoustic balcony glazing
Solarlux discusses how acoustic balcony glazing can create quieter, more comfortable high-rise homes in noisy urban environments...
Cities in the UK are becoming taller and noisier. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of households living in a flat, maisonette or apartment increased by 21% to 5.4 million. In London, over half of the homes built since 2002 are in high-rise buildings. While high-rise living may address housing shortages, the quality
of life for residents is often impacted by issues such as noise, limited outdoor space and overheating. Architects and specifiers must therefore rethink urban home design to deliver comfort, usability and compliance with building regulations. Acoustic balcony glazing, for example, offers noise reduction with natural ventilation and solar control glass. Highly engineered glazing systems maintain openness, daylight and aesthetics, while enhancing comfort and wellbeing in dense urban environments. The challenge of urban acoustics Noise isn’t just an inconvenience; it has measurable impacts on health and wellbeing. Sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment
and effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health are all linked to prolonged exposure to noise. Urban noise comes from many sources. Road, rail and air traffic can be major contributors, along with industrial activity, construction, nightlife, neighbours, home appliances and HVAC equipment. “Despite the increase in quiet-running electric vehicles and urban planning to reduce noise levels, the public perception is that cities are getting noisier,” explains Jeevan Matharu, marketing manager at Solarlux. Nearly two-thirds of Britons living in cities believe their hearing is worse due to noise, and over half believe their environment has become louder in the past five years. A 2023 House of Lords report highlighted that around 40% of the UK population is exposed to harmful levels of road traffic noise, resulting in a reduction in healthy life years. “These statistics demonstrate the importance of acoustic
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