Fabric Panel, ARO Array Hanging Panel

The 100% wool felt panels installed in this gallery absorb sound and prevent echoes. Surfaces that are soft, perforated, or molded with grooves and gaps not only control the overall loudness of a room but also make speech easier to understand. Echoes arrive a tiny bit later than sound waves heading directly to the ear; these late-breaking waves distort the pattern of the earlier ones, blurring the crisp sounds of conversation. Wool felt is a natural material used in many acoustic architectural products; felt is also used in the manufacture of audio equipment. The perforations enhance the product’s acoustic performance as well as producing a beautiful and elegant surface. According to the designers, the grid of rotating slashes in this pattern evokes the rhythm of a rain shower.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Hear, See, Play: Designing with Sound.