Stockholm 2016: acoustics are the hot topic at this week's Stockholm Furniture Fair, with designers and brands launching products aimed at making interiors quieter.
The fair features more acoustic products than ever, with the usual sound-absorbing wall panels being joined by upholstered desktop screens for computer working, spongy wall-mounted booths for phone calls and even dome-shaped baffles designed to hang just above workers' heads.
Focus by Zilenzio was among a series of products aimed at reducing noise that were showcased during Stockholm Furniture Fair 2016
The trend was noted by journalists on the jury of the editors' choice awards at the fair.
"Noise reduction seems to be a major preoccupation in Scandinavian interiors these days, which is hardly surprising since the wooden floors and raw surfaces that are synonymous with Scandinavian design don't absorb sound very well," said Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs, who was one of the jurors. Fellow jurors Walter Bettens of Damn magazine and Adeline Seidel of Stylepark added that designers have neglected noise in interiors for too long.

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"Interior designers are not solving the problems of acoustics," said Bettens, editor of Damn magazine. "They're far too busy with textures and colours but it's a very important thing. It should be part of the education of a designer."
He added...