^{Project Type: Office building / textile and acoustic installation

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Architecture: ffbk Architects, Basel

Acoustic Planning: Applied Acoustics, Sissach

Client: Straumann Group, Basel
Photography: © Ruedi Walti}

Project Overview
For the Straumann Group in Basel, Annette Douglas developed a textile concept for acoustic walls within an open-plan office environment. The project won an invited competition and was nominated for the Swiss Design Award 2005.

Concept
The large-scale acoustic hanging panels (240 × 375 cm) function simultaneously as room dividers, sound absorbers, ceiling lighting elements and carriers for electrical infrastructure. The installation combines multiple functional requirements within a single architectural element. The surrounding context of the building — a sparse urban landscape shaped by railway tracks and roads — inspired the design concept. Plants such as sweet peas and vetch, capable of thriving in harsh environments, became the starting point for the embroidered motifs, symbolising the emergence of new life within urban conditions.

Textile Implementation
Six different “weed” designs were developed and embroidered, distributed across 66 acoustic panels mounted on frames with foam cores. The elements provide both acoustic performance and a strong visual identity within the workspace.

Significance
Completed in 2004, the project marked an important turning point in Annette Douglas’ work. It sparked a lasting interest in using textiles as active contributors to room acoustics and became the starting point for the development of textile-based acoustic solutions.