Keys To Designing A Non-Dedicated Home Theater

I have never really liked the term, “dedicated theater,” because it does not really project the image of an entertaining environment. I love the term ‘private theater’ as it gives more credence to the special experience such a room delivers.  Similarly, the term “dedicated theater” is often intended to infer the highest and best standard of home theater, but that’s not always the only purpose the room will provide!

If we take a look, historically, at commercial theaters we find that many of the great classic rooms have been re-purposed and survive because of mixed use. In fact, if we look into it, the best surviving classic theaters have been re-purposed for live performances followed by live theater. Why? Simply put, theaters that were designed and built well enough can support these activities, too. The distinguishing characteristics of these rooms are good acoustics, good seating positions and sight lines, and good architecture and design. [Read more...]

Controlling Light and Acoustics in Theaters Containing Glass

Large reflective surfaces in a home theater require acoustical consideration, and windows are particularly difficult to treat. If the window is also a door, such as sliding doors or decorative single light doors, the positioning and access/egress issues come into play, as well.

Try as we might, windows will “happen,” due to local building code requirements, architectural standards for a community, aesthetic sensibilities, and client preference. There are, however, exceptions for home theaters in the Uniform Building Code (UBC), and when that doesn’t work, automated shades usually offer your best alternative.

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