For years, acoustics occupied a rather thankless position in office design. They were expected to solve problems, preferably without attracting attention and often only after the space had already been designed. At ORGATEC 2026, BuzziSpace is reversing that logic. The Belgian specialist is demonstrating how acoustic elements can become a defining part of the architecture itself. Designs by Sebastian Herkner, Alain Gilles and Common Object Studio put particular emphasis on ceilings, lighting and spatial zoning.

The presentation in Hall 6.1, Stand C050, follows a clear principle: acoustics should not merely be measured, but experienced. Under the theme “Silence Meets Style”, BuzziSpace is presenting different workplace scenarios rather than a collection of isolated products. Focus, collaboration and privacy form the central themes, demonstrating how open spaces can accommodate different activities through design and acoustic intervention.

A walk-through Acoustic Tunnel allows visitors to experience sound absorption and shielding directly. Richard Ellerbeck, the brand's Global Acoustic Consultant, is also present at the exhibition. The tunnel itself is an effective demonstration tool. While acoustic performance can be explained through technical documentation, experiencing the difference makes the argument considerably easier to understand.

When the ceiling becomes part of the architecture

One of the most prominent new products is BuzziShake, designed by Sebastian Herkner. The modular PET-felt elements feature a pronounced wave-like structure and can be installed on walls or ceilings. Their geometry increases the sound-absorbing surface while creating a distinctive architectural appearance. They can also help conceal technical installations. BuzziShake Light adds integrated LED lighting to the system.

BuzziSpace specifies 60% post-consumer recycled content for the PET felt. The material therefore combines acoustic functionality with a tangible recycling component. Its overall environmental performance, however, depends on the complete product lifecycle rather than recycled content alone.

Common Object Studio also explores the ceiling as an independent design surface. Inspired by underwater vegetation, BuzziKelp uses modular forms intended to reduce ambient noise. BuzziFly adopts a more dynamic geometry, targeting particularly mid- and high-frequency sound.

Both designs illustrate a broader change within the portfolio. Rather than adding individual absorbers to a completed interior, BuzziSpace increasingly offers architectural elements that can be incorporated into the planning process from the outset.

Where acoustics and lighting converge

BuzziTent and BuzziVault take this approach further. Both product families were designed by Alain Gilles and combine spatially expressive forms with acoustic functions. BuzziTent was already introduced at NeoCon in Chicago in June 2026. While BuzziTent uses a tent-like structure, its inverted counterpart BuzziVault features curved volumes. Both systems are available with or without integrated lighting.

For architects and interior designers, the combination offers practical possibilities. A suspended structure can perform several functions at once: absorbing sound, defining a particular activity zone and providing workplace illumination. This can be particularly relevant in open-plan interiors and refurbishment projects.

It also changes the planning process. Acoustics, lighting and interior construction can no longer be regarded entirely as separate disciplines. Integrating several functions into a single element offers opportunities to create visually coherent spaces while addressing different functional requirements.

For BuzziSpace, this also broadens its potential role within a project. Rather than supplying individual acoustic products alone, the brand can be considered during the early development of spatial zones, ceiling installations and lighting concepts.

Privacy without enclosing every workspace

Not every new solution is suspended from the ceiling. BuzziWX and BuzziHug Focus, developed by the company's in-house studio, address the continuing demand for concentration and privacy in open offices.

BuzziWX uses existing columns or wall areas to create acoustically shielded work and communication zones for up to two people. BuzziHug Focus provides a compact individual workstation surrounded by an acoustic structure.

Both respond to a familiar challenge. Hybrid working has not eliminated the need for offices to support different activities simultaneously. Open environments are expected to encourage interaction, yet employees still require places for video calls and focused individual work. Fully enclosed rooms are neither necessary nor practical for every situation.

BuzziWX and BuzziHug Focus occupy the space between conventional acoustic absorbers and fully enclosed office pods. BuzziSpace also offers enclosed booths within its existing portfolio. The new solutions therefore broaden the range of less enclosed privacy options that can be integrated into existing floor plans.

From acoustic products to planning strategy

Behind the product developments lies a wider ambition. BuzziSpace is increasingly presenting acoustics as a spatial quality that can be planned systematically. Its “3-Layer Acoustic Framework” and the “Acoustic ABCs” — Absorb, Block and Contain — provide a structure for controlling how sound behaves within an interior.

The acoustic principles themselves are not new. What matters is how BuzziSpace translates them into a design concept. Walls, ceilings and microarchitectural elements are not considered in isolation, but as different layers of an integrated spatial solution.

For architects and workplace planners, this offers a systematic approach. Acoustic requirements can be addressed while developing the floor plan, rather than being treated as problems to solve through individual products at a later stage.

BuzziSpace supports this approach with product information, planning resources and acoustic consulting. Incorporating these solutions earlier in the process allows functionality, design and technical requirements to be coordinated more effectively.

A design specialist within the Haworth portfolio

The broader planning approach reflects the brand's development. BuzziSpace was established by Steve Symons in 2007 and has built an international reputation for distinctive acoustic design objects. US office furniture group Haworth acquired a stake in the company in 2018 and announced an international distribution partnership.

At the same time, BuzziSpace adds a specialised approach to Haworth's portfolio, bringing together room acoustics, lighting and distinctive design.

Tommaso Baldini has served as BuzziSpace's CEO and Managing Director since October 2023. He joined the company in 2021 as International Sales Director, subsequently expanding its international agent network and integrating the customer service team into the sales organisation.

At ORGATEC, BuzziSpace demonstrates how it is developing its design identity. Collaborations with international designers remain an important part of the brand. At the same time, modular systems and the integration of different spatial functions are becoming more prominent within its portfolio.

New opportunities in the contract market

For the international interior contract market, this development is relevant in several ways. Flexible workplaces require more than movable furniture and a variety of workstation types. They also need acoustic environments that respond to different activities.

An open collaboration area has different requirements from a zone intended for focused work. Meeting spaces, informal gathering points and temporary workstations each require their own solutions. The challenge is to differentiate these areas without sacrificing the openness of the overall spatial concept.

This is where BuzziSpace's expanded portfolio comes into play. Ceiling systems create recognisable zones, acoustic lighting combines functional requirements, and compact privacy solutions complement open floor plans. The individual products can therefore be understood as components of a broader spatial concept.

For designers and specifiers, this is particularly relevant in projects that aim to combine flexible use, architectural quality and acoustic comfort. ORGATEC gives BuzziSpace an opportunity to demonstrate these connections within a spatial setting rather than through product images alone.

Sustainability enters the specification process

Material development is another aspect of this approach. Beyond recycled PET felt, BuzziSpace uses recovered textiles and alternative raw materials. Haworth's sustainability reporting describes BuzziReForm as a mycelium-based acoustic panel and highlights recycled textile content and disassembly features in BuzziBlox.

Such properties are becoming increasingly relevant in contract projects. Architects and specifiers are paying greater attention to material provenance, emissions, disassembly and documented environmental impacts. Recycled content is one part of this picture. Product-specific evidence and the entire lifecycle remain important when evaluating solutions for individual projects.

Acoustics as part of architecture

At ORGATEC 2026, BuzziSpace is demonstrating how the role of acoustic products within interior planning can evolve. The new collections range from modular wall and ceiling systems to integrated lighting and compact privacy solutions for open workplace environments.

What connects these different product families is the planning approach behind them. Acoustics are no longer treated merely as a technical characteristic of individual objects, but as an integral part of the spatial design.

For architects and interior designers, this creates a broader set of tools. For BuzziSpace, it opens opportunities to bring its acoustic expertise into projects earlier and more comprehensively. And in Cologne, visitors can already hear what that approach might mean.