Kirei has partnered with AKUART, a creator of customizable framed acoustic design elements with an easily changeable canvas. Joining forces in their shared mission of creating spaces that sound as great as they look, the new partnership marks AKUART’s first distribution point in the North America region, providing increased accessibility for architects and designers searching for customizable, eco-friendly visual soundscape solutions.
“The incredible synchronicity between AKUART and Kirei lies in our shared vision and mission of providing sustainably-driven acoustic solutions that prioritize beauty and functionality,” says John Stein, president, Kirei. “We know many spaces can have acoustic issues while needing great design solutions. These rooms can benefit from strategically placing printed AKUART acoustic absorbers as wall art, wayfinding signage, room partitions and interior accents. Our partnership is providing architects and designers with increased ease in crafting the sound of a space while using art, color and graphics in new ways.”
Made from sustainable materials, AKUART’s four framed acoustic design elements—On The Wall acoustic wall panels; Hang With Me suspended acoustic panels; Stand By Me free-standing acoustic wall screens; and Shelter Me acoustic desk screens—allow designers to select from a variety of art, including solid colors (with color matching available), pre-existing art or custom images. Each canvas is machine washable, bleach-cleanable and replaceable. The absorber beneath the canvas is a high NRC (.9), low VOC, Class A fire treated sound absorbing PET panel placed within a durable, coated aluminum frame. The frames are available in four standard colors or the option to specify a custom color, as well a variety of sizes. All pre-existing art or custom images are printed at 600 DPI.
Providing a variety of design opportunities for workplace, education, hospitality, worship, retail and health-care environments, AKUART’s collection of customizable framed acoustic art also pairs well with Kirei’s existing EchoPanel product line—a decorative, acoustically absorbent panel with a felt-like finish, made from 100 percent PET plastic—to yield specialized applications that cater to projects’ unique acoustic requirements.