Experimental Material Systems Design
Eco Acustica
Sustainable and Innovative Surfaces for Adaptive Acoustics
This research develops adaptive interior surfaces that integrate acoustic performance and user-centred control, combining Wood-SKIN technology and cork panels to create flexible, responsive environments in both heritage and contemporary spaces.
Summary
Building on previous research, this project investigates the development of performing surfaces for interior architecture that can adapt to environmental conditions and user needs. The system combines the Wood-SKIN composite, a lightweight and flexible 3D structure, with cork panels for enhanced sound absorption. The resulting surface transforms dynamically through origami-like movements, adjusting its acoustic performance—from absorbent to reflective—with a simple gesture. This approach enables the creation of customised, intelligent spaces that enhance comfort and communication. Designed to be versatile and sensitive to architectural contexts, the system offers a powerful solution for both new designs and retrofitting of stratified building heritage.
Building on the results of convincing studies already carried out, this research aims to develop a system of performing surfaces for interior architecture that can intelligently respond to various disciplines and the psychophysical conditions of occupants.
The goal is twofold: to design an innovative product and to define an integrated design and manufacturing process that supports its implementation.
The goal is twofold: to design an innovative product and to define an integrated design and manufacturing process that supports its implementation.
The core of the system is based on the synergy between two key components:
- Wood-SKIN, a composite material that enables the creation of lightweight, three-dimensional, structural surfaces adaptable to architectural geometry and acoustic needs
- Cork panels, used for their high sound-absorbing capacity and environmental sustainability
The Wood-SKIN layer acts as a flexible morphing structure, capable of forming origami-like geometries that transform the acoustic behaviour of the space. These dynamic forms generate a variable "acoustic chamber" tailored to different uses. With a simple physical adjustment, the surface can switch from sound-absorbing to sound-reflecting, enhancing acoustic performance depending on the situation, for instance, improving the intelligibility of a speaker's voice during a lecture or presentation.
This system responds to the growing demand for customised, high-performance environments, particularly in the context of retrofitting historic or layered buildings. It promotes a new technological approach based on flexibility, user interaction, and contextual sensitivity, offering a versatile product that can meet the diverse acoustic and spatial needs of contemporary interiors.
SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR
SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR
Ingrid Paoletti
TEAM
Maia Zheliazkova, Andrea Giglio
PARTNERS
Tecnosugheri srl, Woodskin, Regione Lombardia
Publication
Zheliazkova M., Giglio A., Paoletti I.; Acoustic characterisation of a novel wood-cork composite material for architectural applications; Forum Acusticum 2020
