Bob Essert and Anne Minors spotlighted at Auditorium Acoustics Conference at the Bristol Beacon The Institute of Acoustics held its Auditorium Acoustics 2025 conference at Bristol Beacon on 8-10 September 2025. More than 160 acousticians from around the world attended. This was a great opportunity for Sound Space Vision to show off the successful integration … Continued
In the first 2 months since reopening the Bristol Beacon has hosted several orchestral events, and programmed several more in the next few months. After the opening night extravaganza with the amazing and versatile Paraorchestra, Bristol Choral Society performed Handel’s Messiah on 16 December 2023. On December 19th the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra tested the range … Continued
The Beacon is open! SSV has been proud to be a part of the project to transform Colston Hal — to give new life, acoustics and relevance to the concert hall that has long been at the heart of Bristol’s music community – now the renamed Beacon Hall and Lantern Hall are joined by a … Continued
Working through the pandemic and coming out the other side we have found new strands of value in the music and acoustics world. We offer our experience and expertise in our new company Imagine Sound Limited.
Top ten universities for drama, dance and cinematics 1. University of Essex (East 15 Acting School) 2. University of Sussex 3. University of Exeter 4. University of Glasgow 5= University of Surrey 5= Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London 5= University of Sheffield 5= Lancaster University 9. University of Birmingham 10. … Continued
Theatres often like to cultivate a foundation myth around their buildings. From the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, which has proudly occupied the same plot for almost 350 years, to the Young Vic in Waterloo – which had its “temporary” 1970s auditorium recently enshrined, relic-like, in a permanent casing – there is a thespian habit … Continued
Nevill Holt Opera by Witherford Watson Mann Architects Client Nevill Holt Opera Awards RIBA East Midlands Award 2019, RIBA East Midlands Conservation Award 2019, RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year 2019, RIBA National Award 2019 and Shortlisted for the 2019 Stirling Prize Nevill Holt Opera Building is, at first interaction, a non-building, wholly hidden within the … Continued
Nevill Holt Opera, by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, wins the People’s Vote! Read more here.
“Vocal intelligibility is therefore important, and amplification is sometimes used. Revery Architecture engaged London-based Sound Space Vision to design a theatre for both loud percussion and the softer voices of performers. The walls of the theatre are clad with concave wood panels of varying radii to distribute sounds of different frequencies. Parts of the walls are … Continued
Anne Minors, Director of Sound Space Vision summarises the project as follows: “The dramatic setting of Nevill Holt and beautiful gardens form the first act of the opera-going experience, the stable building itself closes down and opens up again to nature with a skylight above and doors back and front. Within the auditorium, constraints of … Continued
The views from both seat and stage get equal consideration with Witherford Watson Mann’s characteristically skilful and sympathetic fusing of old and new at Nevill Holt Opera. Read the entire article here.
“The theatre’s acoustics have been designed to support young voices particularly. Working closely with Bob Essert, founding director of theatre acoustic specialist Sound Space Vision, Witherford Watson Mann applied a number of techniques to the space.” Read the article and watch the video here:
Sound Space Vision was there to help inaugurate the newly-transformed Fairfield Halls along with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Dame Judi Dench, resident poet Shaniqua Benjamin, Michael Billington, John Hannman, Simon Callow, The London Mozart Players, and HRH Duke of Kent. A wonderful fanfare of celebrations!
It hosted everyone from the Beatles to Kraftwerk. Then its lustre faded. Now, after a £42m revamp, the arts powerhouse is back – with a double whammy of major shows. Like a stately modernist weathervane, Fairfield Halls has always been an indicator of Croydon’s ambitions. When the concert hall and theatre complex opened in 1962, it was … Continued
Brearley School Upper School Chorus practices in their new Sound Space Vision auditorium.
Watch as thrilled neighbours, staff, parents and (mostly) students join to open The Brearley School Partner Schoolhouse on time for the 2019/20 school year! Sound Space Vision’s auditorium is a highlight in this beautifully-designed building by KPMB Architects.
The curtain is set to rise on Fairfield Halls next week following a multi-million pound refurbishment which has restored the iconic Croydon building to its former glory…Spaces at the venue include the world-class Phoenix Concert Hall, Ashcroft Playhouse, Arnhem Foyer and new spaces including The Recreational, Savvy and Talawa studios and the John Whitgift Community … Continued
Acoustician Bob Essert, director of Sound Space Design, concedes that performers are likely to be young with fairly lightweight voices, and that the repertoire will concentrate on smaller operatic works. He also makes no promises to eliminate background noise, which is free to pass through large openings in the pavilion’s fabric: ‘The birds are what … Continued
Designed by award-winning architects Witherford Watson Mann, this inspiring space is enhanced by the beautifully crafted theatre planning and acoustics of Sound Space Vision. Watch this video, courtesy of the David Ross Foundation, to hear Anne Minors and Bob Essert talk about the new hall.
From hard-to-reach details to the overarching landscape of the project, this drone footage illustrates why Storey’s Field Centre is a multi-award winning project.