10 Acoustic Solutions with Designs That Speak Volumes

If you haven’t heard, a good Noise Reduction Coefficient rating (which measures the sound absorption performance of a given material) is the difference between an office that sounds like a kid’s birthday party and a place where you can actually get some work done. Of course, there’s more to a good acoustic solution than just performance — particularly in a client-facing setting, how a ceiling or wall tile looks is just as important as how it sounds. The key is finding a design that delights both your ears and your eyes. Here are 10 options that find that sonic sweet spot.

Wall

1

Mason by Atlason

Hlynur Atlason’s 30-by-30-centimetre tiles (part of Wolf-Gordon’s Gather acoustical family) take their cues from slender Dutch brickwork. Available in 16 colours and eight patterns, the collection includes a full range of grid densities and two textured offerings that feature deeper channels to accentuate the depth of individual segments. Composed of 100 per cent recycled felted polyester, each design has an NRC rating of 0.45.

A person in a yellow plaid coat stands behind a textured yellow-green door in a room with matching quilted and curtain walls clad in Soft Cubism acoustic panels by Slalom.

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Soft Cubism by Slalom

Slalom worked with Swedish colour forecaster Tekla Evelina Severin (who operates under the moniker “Teklan”) to develop its latest collection of “soft without being vague” hues. The collection launched at Salone del Mobile in a booth that showcased the new palette applied to the manufacturer’s many sound-absorbing geometric surfaces.

Minimalist room with a beige tufted chair, a small round side table holding books and a bowl, and a textured tan acoustic wall panel in the background.

3

Peak by FilzFelt

One of four recent FilzFelt designs by Bernd Benninghoff, this 100 per cent wool product combines geometric and soft organic forms to deliver excellent acoustic performance with an NRC rating of 0.90. As an added bonus, its various cuts, folds and bends also bolster visual interest, contributing to dynamic shadows throughout the day. Choose from 95 colours.

Modern office space with large windows, green slotted acoustic panels on a white wall, round tables with chairs, a coffee machine, and potted plants.

4

Fold by Unika Vaev

Launched this spring as one of six new Unika Vaev products, this Cradle to Cradle Certified direct-fix wall tile boasts an impressive NRC rating of 0.90. Four patterns include View (shown), which mimics shutters; Mode, a stylish plaid; Groove, a linear design; and Kite, a fun fractal option.

Modern interior with geometric acoustic wall panels, a wooden staircase, a small workspace with a round table and pink chairs, and recycling bins under the stairs.

5

Strato by Acoufelt

Featuring an NRC rating of 0.45, Acoufelt’s rhythmic tiles are available in four sizes. Each one includes five layout options that allow for different configurations of slatted linear elements. In the installation shown, Ivory and Peach accents pop against a Stonewash backdrop.

Ceiling

Modern office lobby with a marble reception desk, seating area, large windows, abstract art, and indoor plants; natural light fills the space.

1

BuzziTent by BuzziSpace

Alain Gilles looked to French guinguettes — lively summer social hubs featuring string lights and tented bar and food stalls — for the inspiration behind BuzziSpace’s latest ceiling solution, launching this June at NeoCon. Both BuzziTent and its inverted counterpart, BuzziVault, are available with or without integrated lighting.

Four modern pendant lights in different shapes and colors hang from the ceiling against a plain gray wall, with visible cords and wooden beams above.

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Lit by Kirei

Kirei (part of Carnegie Acoustic Solutions) teamed up with Seattle’s Resolute Lighting to integrate illumination directly into their acoustic fixtures. Along with the five baffles shown (which feature NRC ratings of 0.30–0.95, depending on the product and installation), the range also includes cloud and pendant designs.

Modern lounge with two beige sofas, accent pillows, a round coffee table, Platter acoustic ceiling panels from Turf, pendant lights, and a neutral color palette with wood and soft lighting.

3

Platter by Turf

Turf serves up a new cloud system defined by intersecting, overlapping rounded panels offered in a full range of shapes and sizes, with depths of five to 15 centimetres. Platter boasts one of the highest NRC ratings in Turf’s catalogue, ranging between 1.15 and 1.30 based on the specific configuration.

Angled view of a modern ceiling with Immix Linear panels, large windows, and orange structural beams crossing diagonally.

4

Immix Linear by Armstrong MetalWorks

Look up inside Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal (by Gensler, HDR and Luis Vidal + Architects) and you’ll spot a MetalWorks Torsion Spring aluminum ceiling design by Armstrong MetalWorks, customized with a wood-look finish and featuring an NRC rating of up to 0.75.

White sculptural pendant lights with ruffled, abstract shapes hang from a wooden slat ceiling in a modern interior space.

5

Tapestra by Arktura

Arktura borrowed from the textile industry to develop this expressive collection’s four sculptural designs: Lace, Weave, Pleat and Spool (shown). Each module includes a lower assembly of three-millimetre-thick acoustic ribbons, plus a top layer of 1.2-centimetre-thick structural ribs that support the cloud’s hanging brackets.

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