New acoustic curtain system launches with Kvadrat Acoustics
Foster + Partners Industrial Design and Kvadrat Acoustics have launched Waves, a curtain system designed to create adaptable and acoustic soft rooms within open plan spaces. The system rethinks the curtain as an architectural element – capable of shaping interiors, improving acoustic comfort, and responding to changing user needs.
Highly adaptable for workplaces, hospitality spaces, and commercial settings, Waves integrates with existing architectural structures. It can be installed directly onto ceilings, soffits, beams, and walls, and can be manually manipulated or motorised using app-based controls. By defining pockets of space within larger environments, the system supports a wide range of activities – from focused work meetings to informal gatherings.
Mike Holland, Head of Industrial Design, Foster + Partners, said: “As workplaces evolve, curtains are being reevaluated as powerful spatial tools. They make spaces work harder, supporting a greater diversity of use while providing acoustic and visual privacy.”
Waves works as a room divider, forming linear or curved shapes within larger rooms. The flexibility of the track enables the creation of space within a space – offering a sense of shelter while keeping users visually and spatially connected to their surroundings.
Foster + Partners Industrial Design and Kvadrat Acoustics performed acoustic studies to understand sound absorption in relation to the human voice range. By testing different materials, the system achieves effective absorption across speech frequencies to improve acoustic comfort and privacy in open environments.
The curtain system comprises three layers: Kvadrat textiles on the front and back, and a Kvadrat-patented sound-reducing layer at the inner core. A tailored gasket helps limit sound spill, while a patented tape hook system controls the rhythm and alignment of the layered fabrics. The newly developed rail enables smooth operation in straight and curved configurations, and the discreet track and carrier systems are integrated for ease of installation, long-term durability, and consistent performance. Selected Kvadrat textiles deliver high performance in acoustics and fire resistance, with options that are particularly well suited to environments that incorporate advanced audio-visual systems.
Waves is designed to operate at an architectural scale, with maximum dimensions of up to five metres in height and five metres in width. Despite its size, the system remains lightweight relative to its performance. Building on a long-standing collaboration that began with the Soft Cells acoustic panel system, Waves continues a shared exploration of textile-based architectural solutions for advanced spatial and acoustic performance.
