When it comes to sound management, are you not impressed with plain acoustic panels? Luxxbox has introduced an alternative for designers and architects. The furniture and lighting design studio recently launched Brix, a modular, free-standing acoustic system that aims to bring more creativity and customization to any work environment.
The goal is to “cut out the noise without shutting out the world,” according to the company’s Instagram.
Brix, which is 100% recyclable, is an inherently flexible product, able to easily adapt to a variety of layouts and can be reconfigured as office needs change. Brix is lightweight and comprises a series of interlocking plates and pins, with the former available in 20 colors and the later in six. Styles include regular, t-shape and x-shape. Designers can also choose from open, semi-closed or fully closed screen options depending on privacy needs.
interiors+sources chats with Luxxbox founder and owner Jason Bird about Brix’s inspiration, flexibility and more.
interiors+sources: What was the inspiration behind Brix?
Jason Bird: We do a lot of work with big corporations, and we get access to their research and we do studies with them. Agile working is still something people are focusing on when developing the office space. It’s that flexibility that you need. There’s also that element of fun in creating your own space. So, we applied what we know about modular space dividers to create one that can easily be set up and moved around and is lightweight and fun to build.
i+s: What was most challenging about bringing this product to life?
JB: Materiality is always a major consideration when creating an acoustic form like this. You need surface area and bulk, and to create that without adding a lot of mass is a challenge.
[Related: Acoustical Elements are Designed into a Variety of Products at NeoCon 2019]
i+s: How is it a recyclable or sustainable product?
JB: Brix is made up of PET polyester – which is used in water and soda bottles – and that gets recycled into a fiber, then gets formed under heat and pressure to make those dense boards. It can then be recycled in the same way as a water bottle is recycled. We can reuse that again to make more Brix, and we do have a product stewardship policy that says we’ll take back anything we produce and recycle it. That’s one aspect. Brix also uses EPP [expanded polypropylene], which uses a low-energy process of manufacturing. The key factor for us is its durability – it’s very tough.
JB: It’s been great. There’s a novelty aspect to it. It’s not like something you’d typically see in an office environment. Because of its flexibility you can create right angles, curves, crosses to create walls. People’s imaginations run when they see it.
(Photo: Luxxbox founder and owner Jason Bird. Credit: Luxxbox.)
i+s: What else should the architecture and design community know about this product?
JB: It’s a good alternative to something like a phone booth concept. People can create small areas that are very easy to set up and move. There’s a lot of potential there to create small quiet spaces. We’ve seen it used across communal tables where some division is needed. You can build it up on the floor and build it across the table and down the other side. And if that doesn’t work, the great thing about Brix is that you can change it. It’s also customizable, if a client wants a branding aspect, we can do that.
Read next: What to Consider for Acoustics Design
