Basilica of Our Lady of Peace

Tisseyre + Associés has 40 years of experience in the acoustics of performance halls, its core business originally. 30 years ago, anticipating the digital revolution and 3D visualization, we developed a tool for 3D models of performance halls: Hall Acoustics^®. Instead of using the sound ray shooting technique which does not take into account the architectural details, we use the finite element mesh technique which allows these details to be modeled with finesse in order to fully integrate them into the acoustic performance. of the room from its conception. Based on the observation that the acoustics of a performance hall are structuring for its architecture, we have developed a joint working methodology with the architect.

Complete acoustic mission

Thanks to our 3D modeling tool, Hall Acoustics^®, we collaborated from the design phase with the architect in order to integrate the acoustic performance of the hall into the architecture. Our work therefore does not focus on the dimensioning of a posteriori solutions of acoustic absorbers to attenuate the effects of reverberations. We worked with the architect on the choice of shapes and materials used in order to optimize the reverberations so that they contribute to the acoustic performance of the room. In the case of the Yamoussoukro Basilica and its volume of 800,000 m³, it was essential to avoid echo effects linked to late acoustic reflections. Due to the very focal shape of the dome, we have designed corrective acoustic treatments to control this reverberation phenomenon in order to:

• Rebalance the returns due to the walls in relation to those of the vault;
• Control the reverberation in order to obtain optimal reverberation, in an occupied room, for liturgical use.

Tailor-made electroacoustic sound directive mission

The integration of the acoustic treatment within its architecture also allowed us to integrate a sound system. The highly directive custom-made sound system located in the central canopy, allows an almost horizontal sound diffusion that makes you forget the reverberation. This device leads to optimal speech intelligibility (STI > 0.6). This arrangement also leads to the same level of intelligibility with a natural voice as when the speaker is in the canopy.