Solving for Noise and Distraction: Zoning Tools Designers Love
Open-plan environments aren’t going anywhere—but the way we use them is changing. Whether in workplaces, education settings, hospitality lounges, or public interiors, designers are rethinking how to create spaces that support focus, connection, and well-being all at once.
As Création Baumann describes, “Open-plan spaces require flexible and multifunctional design concepts. Textiles as architectural elements offer the ideal solution for quickly and easily zoning working environments both visually and acoustically.” Their insight captures a fundamental truth: soft architecture is no longer decorative—it’s strategic.
In a world where floorplans must adapt faster than ever, textile and acoustic solutions give designers the tools to divide space without building walls, adding cost, or sacrificing natural light. Below, we explore how visual and acoustic zoning can transform environments—and how thoughtful product choices can help bring these ideas to life.
Création Baumann Acoustic Divider Vario
Why Zoning Matters in Modern Interiors
Today’s open spaces must balance multiple modes of use:
- Heads-down focus
- Hybrid collaboration
- Quiet study and contemplation
- Social gathering and circulation
Without intentional zoning, these needs collide. Acoustic spillover rises. Visual distractions multiply. Designers end up fighting the architecture rather than elevating it.
Zoning creates harmony.
It introduces clarity to how a space should be used—without the permanence or rigidity of fixed construction. Soft architectural elements like drapery and hanging PET screens offer:
1. Visual Privacy Without Isolation
Sheers, room-height textiles, and perforated acoustic screens create boundaries that feel soft, welcoming, and porous.
2. Acoustic Separation That Supports Well-Being
Noise is one of the most commonly cited frustrations in open-plan environments. Acoustic PET screens and heavy drapery help reduce echo, absorb sound, and create quieter micro-environments.
3. Flexibility That Matches Real-World Behaviors
Spaces can expand, contract, divide, or open depending on the need—morning collaboration, afternoon heads-down work, evening events.
4. Human-Centered Warmth
Soft materials immediately make large, open rooms feel more comfortable, grounded, and intuitive to navigate.
Création Baumann Chamois
Designer: Kami Blusch, Berlin, Germany | Schwarz Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG, Neckarsulm, Germany
Location: Campus Founders, Heilbronn, Germany
Photographer: Kami Blusch, Berlin, Germany
Design Tools for Soft Architecture
Soft architecture invites designers to do more with less—less construction, less cost, less permanence, and less waste. Two applications stand out for their versatility and impact:
1. Drapery as Dynamic Space-Makers
Drapery—especially performance drapery—provides one of the simplest ways to introduce movement and modularity into a space.
How Designers Use Drapery for Zoning
- Divide large rooms into smaller “territories”
- Create temporary meeting zones or breakout spaces
- Soften the edges of glass partitions and reduce glare
- Frame circulation paths without creating visual clutter
- Control daylight to support productivity and comfort
Carnegie’s partnership with Création Baumann gives designers access to advanced heat and glare draperies and acoustically active textiles that support zoning without weighing a space down.
Kirei Ellipse Duck Egg
2. Acoustic PET Screens as Vertical Sound Control
Hanging acoustic PET screens (sometimes called acoustic partitions or ceiling-suspended baffles) provide structure and acoustic clarity without altering the built environment.
What Makes Hanging PET Screens Effective?
- They absorb sound across a wide frequency range, reducing noise spillover between zones.
- Their vertical orientation increases acoustic surface area without adding bulk.
- They filter sightlines, helping define zones without blocking natural light.
- They install easily on standard ceiling systems—ideal for renovations or leased spaces.
Kirei offers PET screens and panels that can be hung as soft dividers—introducing both acoustic control and visual texture. They’re especially effective when paired with drapery, creating layered zones that feel intentional, not improvised.
A More Adaptable Future
Designers everywhere are rediscovering the power of soft architecture. With zoning strategies grounded in drapery and acoustic solutions, interiors can evolve as quickly as the needs of the people who use them.
The result?
Spaces that are more functional, more human, and more adaptable—without the cost or carbon footprint of hard construction.
If you’re exploring zoning strategies for an upcoming project, Carnegie’s Design Services team can help with material recommendations, acoustic guidance, and palette curation tailored to your vision.
About the Author
Michelle Ko is the Marketing Manager for Carnegie with more than a decade of experience shaping narratives within the design industry. Drawing on her background as a textile designer, she brings hands-on expertise in researching and developing innovative materials, including Xorel. Her passion lies in storytelling, education, and collaboration—uncovering the deeper truths behind trends and innovations, and exploring not only what captivates us, but why.
