Noise Reduction in Open-Plan Offices

This project is concerned with how to design a product that helps create an improved work environment by reducing acoustic and visual noise in open-plan offices. The product is a flexible sound-absorbing room divider that offers both an easily adjustable shape, as well as the possibility of modifying the sizes of the spaces between the modules, therefore making it adaptable to many different work environments.

Setup and use

The screen is flexible and can be set up in many ways. The visual and acoustic shielding of the screen can be adapted, as needed, to the specific situation. The recesses in the screen preserve a sense of contact with the other side of the divide, while offering privacy, as well as visual and acoustic noise-reduction. The screen makes it possible to setup separate zones in the workspace without removing the connections between these different sections. The screen can be adjusted to achieve the desired density.

The screen can be set up in curved shape, which gives a dynamic expression. At the same time, this setup can create niches, while maintaining an uninterrupted division of the workspace.

Main features and structure

The screen consists of stacked felt slats. The felt elements have grooves in the middle that allow them to slide sideways, which makes it possible to adjust the density of the screen. 

• Closed: The screen can be shut completely, thus achieving the maximum amount of visual and acoustic shielding. 
  
  
• Open: The screen can be opened in order to increase the amount of contact with the other side of the divide. 

• Displacement: The slats in the screen can be shifted to achieve varying densities.
  
  
• Space formation: The screen can form enclosed spaces and niches, when the vertical pipes are repositioned.