^{Project Type: University campus / educational building
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Architecture: EM2N Architects, Zurich
Acoustic Planning: Applied Acoustics / Wichser Acoustics
Client: Baudepartement Kanton Zurich
Application: Acoustic curtains for dance studios 
Product: STREAMER classic aw 0.8}

Project Overview
EM2N Architects transformed the former Toni dairy building from the 1970s into a university campus accommodating approximately 5,000 students, lecturers and staff. The project preserves the industrial character of the structure, combining raw materiality with selectively refined and colourful spatial elements to create an open framework for learning and creative exchange. The architects’ affinity for textile expression is already visible in the façade design, where a sculptural building volume is wrapped in a wavy metal mesh resembling a transparent curtain. From a distance, the building appears reduced to its pure geometric form. Annette Douglas Textiles developed the comprehensive textile concept and was responsible for design, development, planning, budgeting and production supervision. More than 350 rooms were equipped with curtains, requiring over 20,000 m² of textile production.

^{read more about the music rooms here ... 
and about the concert hall here ....}

Acoustic Challenge
Dance studios, rehearsal spaces and teaching environments required adaptable acoustic solutions capable of supporting movement, music and spoken instruction. At the same time, glare protection, spatial flexibility and safety requirements had to be integrated without compromising the openness of the architectural concept.

Acoustic Solution
Inspired by the form of a ballet tutu, specially designed curtains were developed for the dance studios and fifteen ballet halls. Transparent acoustic curtains made from STREAMER classic of the Silent Space Collection were installed as movable 360° elements. The translucent textiles allow natural daylight to flood the spaces while absorbing up to 80% of sound energy, significantly improving acoustic comfort and speech clarity. The curtains function simultaneously as sound absorbers, glare protection along the glazed façades and as flexible coverings for mirrored wall surfaces. All textile systems are flame-retardant and meet demanding safety requirements for educational buildings while integrating seamlessly into the architectural language of the campus.

Application

• transparent acoustic curtain STREAMER classic
• sound absorption up to 80% (αw up to 0.8)
• installation in dance studios and 15 ballet halls
• movable 360° curtain system
• preservation of daylight and spatial transparency
• combined acoustic absorption, glare protection and mirror coverage
• flame-retardant textile for educational environments

Architectural Impact
The project demonstrates how textile acoustic solutions can transform large-scale adaptive reuse architecture, supporting creative education through flexibility, acoustic performance and spatial atmosphere while maintaining the industrial identity of the building.

Textile acoustic solutions by Annette Douglas Textiles improve room acoustics, are flame-retardant, and preserve architectural transparency and design intent.