Le Temple restaurant

Project: Le Temple restaurant

Segment: Hospitality

Country/City: France, Saint-Savinien

Installer: Echoplaf

Photographer: Jonathan Boquillon

Project size: 671 m²

Production year: 2026

Reducing noise in a unique dining environment

Situated on the banks of the Charente River in Saint-Savinien, Le Temple is a restaurant housed in a beautifully restored former temple. The venue's distinctive character is defined by its impressive ceiling height, open dining space and mezzanine level, creating a welcoming atmosphere that complements its locally inspired cuisine.

While the building's architecture contributes significantly to the restaurant's identity, it also presented acoustic challenges. The combination of a large open volume, hard surfaces and multiple seating areas resulted in noticeable reverberation, particularly during busy service periods. As noise levels increased, conversations became less comfortable for both guests and staff.

The objective was to improve speech intelligibility and create a more pleasant dining environment while preserving the unique character of the historic building.

A solution tailored to the space

To achieve this, Ecophon Solo™ acoustic islands were installed throughout the dining room. The solution included a combination of rectangular and circular panels in different sizes and colours, carefully positioned to complement the architecture while delivering effective sound absorption.

In total, 34 m² of acoustic surface was added to the restaurant. The suspended islands provided an efficient acoustic treatment without requiring major alterations to the existing structure, allowing the venue's architectural features to remain the focal point of the interior.

The installation was carried out by Echoplaf and completed in a single day. This ensured that the restaurant's operations were not significantly affected and allowed the work to be scheduled around normal business activity.

The lightweight suspended solution enabled a straightforward installation process while meeting both acoustic and aesthetic requirements.

Measurable improvements

The acoustic treatment delivered clear and measurable results. Reverberation time was reduced from 1.25 seconds to 0.85 seconds, representing an improvement of approximately 32%. Speech clarity also improved, contributing to a more comfortable and relaxed dining environment.

The reduced reverberation helps limit background noise, making conversations easier to follow and improving the overall experience for guests. Staff also benefit from a more comfortable working environment, particularly during busy service periods.

The Le Temple project demonstrates how acoustic comfort can be improved in a heritage building without compromising its architectural identity. By integrating Ecophon Solo™ acoustic islands into the existing space, the restaurant achieved a significant improvement in acoustic performance while maintaining the visual qualities that make the venue unique.

Today, guests can enjoy the atmosphere, cuisine and architecture of Le Temple in a setting that is not only visually appealing but also acoustically comfortable.