Designed by Barcelona-based studio Lievore Altherr Molina for Italian furniture manufacturer Arper, the Parentesit collection is made up of modular wall-mounted and freestanding acoustic panels. Minimalist geometric shapes define these pieces, which can be upholstered in over 100 of the company's available fabrics in a range of colors, and mitigate sound through rigid polyurethane foam backing.
The wall-mounted Parentesit comes in three shapes: an oval, a square, and a circle. Two versions of the square are available, as it can be assembled by two right-angled triangles or two rectangles. Optional features include adding LED strips to radiate from behind the panels for ambient lighting, as well as installing hidden speakers for music that can both be controlled through the Arper Parentesit smartphone app via Bluetooth technology. Wall-mounted panels that opt for the lighting or audio, however, do not provide noise alleviation because the backing is wired to accommodate the two technologies.
The freestanding Parentesit uses similar shapes that are held upright by black metal frames. They are also offered in three styles: two sizes of circular panels, rectangular panels, and a combination of circular and rectangular panels intersecting on a single frame.
This article is part of a series of weekly spotlights covering the latest in innovative products and materials. Read more of ARCHITECT's Object of the Moment coverage here.