Designer Anne Kyyrö Quinn’s Scallop acoustic wall panel
has been awarded the prestigious, global Good Design
Award in textiles category. The award, published in
December 2009, is conferred annually by The Chicago
Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design together
with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and
Urban Studies. This is the third consecutive year that
Kyyrö Quinn’s acoustic panel designs have won the Good
Design Award; Leaf acoustic panel was awarded in 2007
and Rosette acoustic panel in 2008.
Recognising the acoustic properties of 100 % wool felt
Anne Kyyrö Quinn has developed a layered textile range
engineered to dampen sound. The main material, felt,
diffuses the sound and reduces the noise levels
significantly. Kyyrö Quinn’s signature three-dimensional
surface structure plays an important role in bringing down
the noise levels. The intricately structured surface design
creates tiny cavities that wicks sound waves into the layer
of fabric underneath. Like acoustic sponge, the Scallop
panel soaks up ambient noise.
Kyyrö Quinn’s wall coverings are set to target the sound
requirements of public buildings were noise control and
reduction are a big issue such as public spaces, offices,
conference rooms, waiting rooms, airport lounges, media
centres, concert rooms, call centres and cinemas. The wall
panels are created using 100 % sustainable wool felt
making them an ecological choice for sound reduction. The
material used is also natural, unbreakable, versatile, non-
polluting and ethically non-controversial. The panels have
been tested for their acoustic performance.
Anne Kyyrö Quinn designs highly decorative acoustic wall
panels which are constructed using industrial felt. Her
three-dimensional, sculptural creations bring dramatic,
architectural elements to both public and private spaces. In
terms of appearance, they are more reminiscent of works
of art than traditional textiles. The panels are custom
made to order and cut, sewn and finished by hand to a
very high standard at Anne Kyyrö Quinn’s London
studio.The designer, who is inspired by the interplay of
light and shade on the surface of her textured felt textiles,
creates dynamic optical illusions as the surface structure
appears to change depending on the way it has been lit as
well as ones viewpoint.
Finnish designer Anne Kyyrö Quinn has lived in London
since 1986. Kyyrö Quinn studied textile design at London
Metropolitan University where she gained her Master’s
degree in 2001. During her studies she began to research
then largely unused material felt exploring how it interacts
with light. This started a fascination with the material that
has continued to this day. Kyyrö Quinn set up her own
design studio in 1999.
Anne Kyyrö Quinn wins prestigious Good Design Award

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- Laura Bossi
- 15 February 2010
