M.E.G.A. AV Installations won the Best Media Room as well as the Technology Meets Design categories at the recent CEDIA Awards. Let’s find out why
Within a contemporary penthouse apartment in the UK, the Joy Division Room merges high-end technology with cutting-edge architectural and interior design, setting a new standard in media room innovation. Crafted by M.E.G.A. AV Installations and brought to life with the design expertise of Volume 3 Architects, this room is now globally recognised.
Named after the iconic UK band Joy Division, whose music transformed the post-punk landscape, the room captures the band’s emotional depth and complexity in its design. The ceiling, inspired by the band’s legendary album cover artwork, is an inverted sound wave waterfall — a striking design element that instantly captures the essence of innovation and homage.
Visitors are struck by the room’s unique aesthetic, which combines sophisticated technology with artistic vision. Designed to function optimally as a high-quality home cinema (explore five more home cinemas) for films and sports, a high-fidelity listening room and a cosy living and party space, the room meets multifunctional needs without compromising on design or performance.
The collaboration with Volume 3 Architects was key, especially in ensuring the ceiling design met both aesthetic and acoustic standards. The architect also took on the role of interior designer, ensuring a seamless integration of technology without compromising the design’s integrity. This integration is critical, given the room’s sophisticated control systems, including extensive Lutron Dali-based lighting, automated shading, climate control, multi-room audio, and a robust home network.
The ceiling’s suspended ribbed structure, made from veneered MDF, serves a dual purpose. It acts as a large diffuser to enhance the room’s acoustics while the integrated LED strips transform it into a modern chandelier. This setup ensures controlled acoustics, crucial for both cinematic viewing and high-fidelity listening. Strategically placed high-density acoustic foam blocks serve as bass traps and the large sofas also play a role in controlling low frequencies. The room’s architectural features, such as high ceilings and extensive windows and glass doors, presented significant acoustic challenges. However, M.E.G.A. AV Installations managed these with a combination of absorptive and diffusive materials. The windows necessitated the strategic placement of bass traps and a high-level positioning of all speakers. Due to the extensive glass, side speakers were omitted, and instead, all speakers were installed high up, near the ceiling, focusing on an enveloping sound experience.
The exceptional sound quality is crucial, as the room must cater to the needs of a dedicated audiophile and former music journalist. His high-end turntable-based hi-fi system required a space where large floor-standing speakers could be positioned under the suspended cinema soundbar to create an immersive audio experience, suitable for both movie nights and music listening.
The Joy Division Room is more than just a space; it is a tribute to innovation, art, and the enduring impact of its namesake band. Just as Joy Division’s music pushed the boundaries of what was possible within their genre, this media room pushes the boundaries of architectural and technological integration. The synergy between form and function within the room echoes the band’s own synthesis of profound lyrics and ground-breaking sound. This project goes beyond mere aesthetics to embody the spirit of an era that redefined music, now reimagined through a space where history and modernity converge seamlessly.
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