Esment House

By Editorial Staff - 2 May 2024
Diasen has participated in the project

Founded in 1962 in Palma de Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, the Esment Foundation promotes the social integration and rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families through numerous projects and activities. Esment House, the Foundation’s headquarters, is a large building located on the outskirts of town in a rural area surrounded by crops, vineyards and olive trees.

Recently renovated under the guidance of the Alfons Romero Estudi d’Arquitectura practice, this building features several areas tailored for educational activities, social gatherings and dining. The spaces are meticulously designed with a focus on user needs and a commitment to providing exceptional environmental comfort.

This attention to detail is critical to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that contributes to a delightful and enjoyable experience throughout the complex.Choosing the right materials and finishes plays a critical role in creating a comfortable environment. Recognizing this importance, Diasen’s involvement in the project prioritized one key part of improving indoor comfort – effective acoustic insulation in areas where children play, learn and socialize. To support this “social” aspect of acoustic comfort, a highly efficient system was used to ensure optimal performance.

At the heart of the system is Diathonite Acoustix+, a cork-based bio-mortar meticulously applied to the building’s interior masonry, complemented by D20, a water-based fixative. The final step was Limepaint, a breathable white water-based lime paint that is excellent at covering surfaces. Able to adhere seamlessly to the Diathonite Acoustix+ substrate, Limepaint preserves the porosity that is essential for acoustic performance. It also provides a visually pleasing texture that adds a tactile dimension to the walls and ceilings of the structure.

Thanks to Diathonite Acoustix+, the system used has the ability to absorb the energy of sound waves without reflecting it and converting it into heat, helping to significantly reduce the reverberation effect caused by multiple and disordered sound reflections.

In such environments, speech intelligibility is maintained, a necessary condition for the activation of effective shared communication processes among children. In this way, the care in the creation of the spaces is combined with the care for the people, especially for the people who find in Esment House an environment adapted to them and respectful of their needs.