When Materialised’s founder, Gary Price, was invited into General Electric’s harbourside office to solve acoustic challenges in one of the rooms in 2006, he was faced with an immense task: creating a comfortable, acoustically sound interior without obstructing the city’s most quintessential view. This seemingly inconceivable contradiction set in motion a consequential research and development journey that culminated at CSIRO’s Waurn Ponds facility in 2014. With the achievement of an elusive 0.6 NRC, the sheer acoustic curtain was born.

The Materialised design trifecta

The breakthrough technology ingeniously integrated the high-performing pragmatism of sound absorption into a category traditionally defined by visual appeal and light diffusion, reimagining the very concept of sheer fabric. Suddenly, designers could combine translucent beauty, reliable function and comfort in a single textile – a trifecta that has always been in high demand, particularly in the efficient domain of commercial interiors. 

“In contemporary decors where hard surfaces are preferred, these acoustic sheers are an ideal way to introduce desperately needed, unobtrusive and highly effective sound absorption,” enthuses David Spargo, owner of Praxis Acoustics. He adds that Materialised’s acoustic sheer curtains absorb significantly more sound energy than any other fabric of this type, a quality that explains why they remain a defining product in Materialised’s portfolio today. 

David Reilly, the Founding Director of Reillys, a renowned destination for blinds and curtains, reinforces this sentiment. “The results have been outstanding,” he says. “Not only does the fabric significantly reduce echoes and soften sound intensity, but it also enhances the aesthetic of any space.” 

Acoustic pioneer, creative powerhouse

The success of Materialised’s acoustic innovation certainly didn’t limit the company’s efforts to that one area. Quite the opposite – the trailblazing technology created in collaboration with CSIRO set the stage for Materialised to inspire, redefine and lead the realm of contract fabrics for years to come.

The pioneering manufacturer went on to embrace the boundless potential of digital printing and dye sublimation, infusing the quiet expression of sheer fabrics with a rich array of visual effects ranging from the bold expression of striking gradations to the gentle luxury of ombré-printed artistry. 

As a result, today, Materialised’s extensive range offers designers unparalleled creative flexibility – stunning fabrics that integrate with the most intricate interior schemes with outstanding ease and precision.

Sheer form, multifaceted expression

This creative potential is beautifully embodied by the vibrant vernacular of Elenberg Fraser’s innovative workspace design. In contrast to the conventional office typology, the design leverages the transformative potential of colour to create an immersive spatial archipelago of distinct areas, each carefully carved out in colour for a specific activity. 

By curating harmonious, area-specific palettes for each zone – whether it’s a communal lounge, a larger meeting pod or an intimate Zoom-call nook – Elenberg Fraser create captivating and gracefully delineated spaces. Here, Materialised’s mesmerising sheer ombré curtains – specified in energising shades ranging from cobalt blues to deep, muted warm reds – unobtrusively cocoon individual sections, offering both privacy and cohesion, while maintaining an essential sense of openness and connection with the rest of the workplace.

Choice without compromise

While this design flexibility is an indisputable hallmark of Materialised’s offering, these innovative textiles deliver an array of functional features to match, yielding a versatile solution for any contemporary interior. 

Every product is meticulously engineered to meet the rigours of commercial application while retaining the sophistication and tactility designers expect. The range’s attainable price point positions these high-impact sheers as a cost-effective choice for high-volume projects, balancing quality and budgetary constraints, while the sustainable Greenguard Gold-certified fabrics meet strict emissions standards, contributing to healthier and compliant interiors. 

A legacy of solving the impossible

Almost two decades on, Gary’s ingenious resolve to address a seemingly unthinkable problem – fusing acoustic performance with transparent splendour – is still the very thread woven into every Materialised fabric today. 

Born from the harbourside challenge all these years ago, this unwavering ethos of optimistic inquiry galvanises Materialised’s ongoing dialogue with the world of design, allowing the company to not only preempt and meet industry challenges but also rearticulate them as creative opportunities. “From the very beginning, our philosophy has been to solve problems for designers while inspiring creativity,” says Materialised CEO, Belinda Price. “That’s why we’ve got a sheer for every concept, budget and functional need.”

It is precisely this ostensibly impossible and entirely irresistible fusion of innovation, performance and beauty that continuously reaffirms Materialised’s leading position in the contract furniture market in the region, placing its sheer fabric offering in a textile category all of its own.