The last 12 months have shifted the goal posts of how we work and, as we make that leap back into office-dominated work routines, it’s clear our working environments need to rapidly adapt to our dramatically changed habits and expectations. The challenge now faced by designers and employers is to create a workplace that can balance digital immersion and in-person connection. Could office acoustics products be the solution that we’re looking for, as we seek to facilitate new and hybrid ways of working?

The need for superior office acoustics feels increasingly prominent. As most of the world enters the digital realm, meetings and collaboration have revealed a new layer of connectivity and accessibility. With this comes the conundrum of how to effectively mitigate new levels of noise and distinguish private and open areas in a quick and nimble way. And although we have grown accustomed to the constant notifications of emails and Slack messages, it takes much more than a pair of noise-cancelling earphones to drown out the diverting buzz of the office.

This evolution towards a hybrid workplace has inspired us to consider office acoustics solutions for almost every surface — from ceiling to flooring, walls, furniture and more. Here are 5 of our favourite finds thus far.

Thinking Works Thinking Quietly Cone of Silence  |  from Stylecraft

Designed by Australian brand Thinking Works, the Thinking Quietly Cone of Silence is a solution for minimising the din of the open plan office by creating a distinct quiet zone for meetings, informal discussions or a place to think.

A unique design within the workplace, the fixed height Cone of Silence is recommended to be positioned at 1500mm above floor level. The PET acoustic panels are available in light grey, charcoal or oatmeal and the timber frame in natural Oak or black stain finish. Thinking Quietly also features a standing height table that may be used in conjunction with the Cone of Silence.

stylecraft.com.au

BuzziSpace BuzziDish  |  by Jeffrey Huyghe

BuzziDish designed by Jeffrey Huyghe, from Zenith.

Imagine BuzziDish as a dynamic sculpture that can transform in seconds—one moment it appears minimalistic, the next it converts into something very expressive. Create your own configurations to fit any setting or interior thanks to the rotating connector attached to the back of the outside curvature.

Featuring a fabric-upholstered body paired with a perforated structure and acoustic foam core interior, BuzziDish’s parabolic, concave design efficiently mitigates noise by absorbing undesired sound waves, helping to create a more pleasant and acoustically-balanced space in open-plan environments.

buzzi.space

Brix  |  from Luxxbox

Brix acoustic screen from Luxxbox.

From Luxxbox, Brix allows people to curate their own workspace, adapting to different levels of transparency with its flexible structure in an open, semi-closed or fully-closed option. It’s lightweight and scalable feature also supports the culture of the open plan office.

luxxbox.com

Aspect customisable lounge  |  by Orangebox from Steelcase

Aspect is a distinctively elegant high back sofa solution by Orangebox, designed to provide private places in any busy workspace or public space. Available as a beautifully intimate high back sofa or an enclosed semi-private booth, allowing for the integration of work surfaces, power, and panel-mounted monitors. 

steelcase.com

Soft Cells  |  from Kvadrat

Kvadrat Soft Cells in the State Library Victoria by Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, photo: Trevor Mein.

As an alternative to non-absorbing materials, Kvadrat’s Soft Cells acoustic panels deliver up to Class A sound absorption, helping to overcome the difficulties of a noisy, digitally driven environment.

Available in a wide choice of Kvadrat textiles and fully customisable, they can be mounted both on walls and ceilings, and seamlessly integrated into any design scheme to harmonise your office acoustics.

kvadrat.dk

EcoSoft  |  from Above Left

Coastal Path from Above Left’s new Headlands collection with EcoSoft

From Above Left, EcoSoft carpet tiles mark a new era in high-performing acoustic and sustainable flooring. Offering a superior alternative to more conventional acoustic surfaces, EcoSoft technology provides twice the sound absorption of hardback tiles, outperforming them by more than 150 per cent for effective sound management, according to Above Left.

aboveleft.com