DEPARTURES STYLE EYES &
DEPARTURES STYLE EYES & EARS 50 hewn timberwork of Athens-based Wood Blocker (woodblocker.gr), these utilitarian pieces not only lessen the sound in our homes but create a unique centrepiece. They are also part of a post-lockdown yearning for calm as our homes have inevitably morphed into un-tranquil offices, Zoom-conference centres, nurseries and classrooms. But what are acoustic panels? “All acoustic panels are designed to absorb and control noise and reverberation within a room to make them much more comfortable spaces,” says Mark Irwin of Resonics (resonics.co.uk), an acoustic specialist firm transforming homes into the sound sanctuaries we all crave. Love your freestyle jazz but your other half is wedded to madrigals? No problem – create a listening room in which the sound will be better absorbed (it is worth noting this is not soundproofing we are talking about, but making sound less echoey and abrasive). There has been a boom in smart addresses with home cinemas recruiting the services of sound specialists. Finally moved into the dream concrete-and-glass warehouse conversion? It might look the part, but it comes along with a harsh-sounding brutalist echo. All these day-to-day issues are alleviated with clever sound panelling. More people are enlisting the help of acoustic curators for their new home. “We often use sound specialists and are very aware of the acoustics of a space in general, and use tools such From left: Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Ennis pattern has been applied to Offecct’s Soundwave; the design of Anticad’s Köral system is based on the shape of a coral reeef as rugs on hard floors, upholstered panelling, materials – there are beautiful sculptural ones such as from Baux acoustics,” says Charu Gandhi from London-based interior design company Elicyon (elicyon.com). “In a large house in Wentworth, we wanted to ensure that the spa areas that were in close proximity to the cinema were not impacted by noise to ensure a calming and serene space. In addition, we worked carefully to ensure that the floor above didn’t feel the vibrations from below.” So when might you use them? “If the space has lots of hard surfaces such as concrete walls or floors, then acoustic panels will drastically improve the acoustic performance of the space,” adds Irwin. “Echo and reverberation will be reduced, and the room will feel much more comfortable. Acoustic wall panels are simple to install, and there is usually something suitable for any space.” FROM LEFT: © OFFECCT, © ANTICAD
© SAATCHI ART Wood Blocker’s cedar-wood accomplishments show how the humble acoustic panel has now entered into the art sphere Wood Blocker’s sound diffuser doubles as a sculpture Swedish atelier Offecct is working with a number of designers to produce statement pieces. The Frank Lloyd Wright pattern for the concrete blocks are based on those used to build his Ennis House, and Karim Rishad’s 3D structures pop from the wall in fuchsia-pink or duck-egg-blue geometric forms. For a more freestyle embellishment, Teppo Asikainen’s panels are a riff on scrunched-up pieces of paper. “Our new behaviour of working from home is asking for more quiet and nicer rooms,” says brand manager Maria Olofsson Karemyr. Or for a more naturalistic form, Greek designer Wood Blocker’s cedarwood accomplishments, available through the Saatchi gallery (saatchiart. com), show how the humble acoustic panel has now entered into the art sphere. “My lifelong passion for music is always making me pay attention to the dynamics of sound, so I am always looking for ways to improve the sound quality of my home audio system,” he comments. “That, combined with my love for wood, made me start creating acoustic panels. My inspiration comes mainly from nature.” When is an acoustic panel not an acoustic panel? When it’s a beetle, of course. Valencia-based MUT Design’s artisans were inspired after a trip to the entomological department of a natural-history museum. The result is a rather cool stacked wall piece for Spanish firm Sancal (sancal.com) that can be coloured in kaleidoscope hues, from candy pink to mint green. An equal conversation starter is the new acoustic furniture from French designers Antoine Lesur and Marc Venot for Sancal – a jutting-out headpiece with ergonomic backrest and a sound-absorbing hood, created as a place in which to have quiet phone conversations – or just a gentle scream if it all gets too much. Indeed, these pieces are worth shouting about, even if nobody can hear you. 51 DEPARTURES
