Acoustic Wall Tiles.

My diploma project at ecal was about designing a system of acoustic wall tiles to create natural sound characteristics in concert halls, restaurants and offices. I wanted to combine my passions for music, architecture, design and engineering for my graduation project.

Together with Benoît Canoine I redeveloped the process of welding wood to permanently assemble large wooden panels of multiple parts within seconds requiring nothing else but the wood itself. We were the first people in the world to ever assemble multiple parts at once using friction welding of wood. This unique manufacturing-process makes it extremely fast, economical and ecologically-sustainable to produce large amounts of wooden cladding.

The design of the tiles is the result of a great collaboration with sound-engineers, architects and wood-scientists and it can be easily configured to perfectly fit any individual spatial and acoustic needs.

The acoustic performance was simulated through a partnership with Prof. Eckhard Kahle of Kahle Acoustics throughout the design-phase and validated within a standardised process in a calibrated acoustic testing facility at EMPA in Zürich.

Due to their unique overlapping geometry they can absorb as much sound as existing products from foams, mineral-wool etc. despite consisting only of wood.

This project is currently in development for a large-scale architectural project to be completed in 2028.


Diploma Project Master Product Design at ECAL
Photography: ©Robin Bervini
Lausanne & Stuttgart 2019