Explore the latest trends in architectural wall design with our top takeaways from NeoCon 2024. Find insights shaping modern workspaces, from the allure of softer aesthetics to cutting-edge technology integration.
Design for architectural walls is constantly evolving, influenced by trends that impact both the look and functionality of workspaces. In this vein, we’re seeing current market trends lean toward creating warm, inviting spaces that foster togetherness and improve the overall well-being of individuals in spaces where learning, working, and healing take place.
With the launch of the KI Wall brand at NeoCon, we engaged with numerous architects and designers to explore these trends and uncover unique specification preferences for architectural walls and pods. These insights helped us identify seven key themes shaping the design and application of architectural walls.
With soft curves, acoustic excellence, open privacy, new tech, expressive finishes, health and well-being, and sustainability taking the lead, we’re excited to share how these seven areas can help inform your future design projects.
1. The Allure of Softness
Incorporating rounded edges, gentle curves, and softer lines into architectural design offers a transformative approach to space creation. This method transcends the rigidity of traditional straight lines and sharp corners, introducing a more fluid, organic aesthetic. The allure of such softness in design is multifaceted, balancing modern geometric lines with elements that evoke a sense of comfort and well-being.
The absence of harsh angles creates a more inviting atmosphere, where the eye can glide effortlessly over surfaces without interruption. This seamless visual flow mimics natural forms, which are often characterized by curves and irregular shapes, making the environment feel more harmonious and less rigid. The aesthetic appeal of softness is not just a matter of style; it profoundly influences how people perceive and interact with a space.
Beyond their visual appeal, softer design elements contribute to the emotional and psychological comfort of a space. Rounded edges and curves are perceived as more welcoming and less intimidating than sharp corners. This perception can foster a sense of safety and relaxation, making spaces feel more comfortable and conducive to well-being.
An example of this was found in a WiggleRoom Super Structure in our showroom which featured rounded framework, beautifully showcasing how these design principles can create environments that are both aesthetically pleasing and psychologically nurturing.
2. Acoustic Excellence
Acoustic performance remains a top priority in architectural wall systems. As more organizations seek to create quiet, private spaces within open office environments, the demand for high-performing, sound-blocking walls has surged. For instance, solid walls such as our Evoke wall system, with acoustically absorptive materials provide an environment with less echo and reverb to support focus work.
Curved walls may also offer unique acoustic advantages. The absence of flat surfaces can help to break up sound waves, reducing the chances of echoes and reverberations that can disrupt work environments. This characteristic makes curved walls ideal for creating quiet zones within bustling offices.
Another example of acoustic excellence in design is the integration of flyover panels, such as those seen in our showroom, which are crafted to seamlessly blend with any office aesthetic while effectively minimizing background noise. These panels incorporate advanced acoustically absorptive materials, ensuring that sound is dampened and diffused, rather than bouncing back into the room. This fosters a calm environment conducive to concentration and teamwork while also enhancing overall workplace productivity.
Incorporating such acoustic excellence into design solutions is essential for modern workplaces, where maintaining a balance between open collaboration areas and private, quiet spaces is crucial. By leveraging the acoustic benefits of curved walls and innovative materials in solid panels, organizations can create work environments that support both collaborative interactions and focused individual tasks.
3. Private Places in Open Spaces
There's a rising demand for independent, freestanding personal spaces that offer privacy, as organizations seek to cater to the ever-changing needs of the contemporary workplace. Privacy pods provide on-demand space division as well as dedicated places for private conversations or heads-down work, making them an ideal solution.
Privacy pods are versatile, offering adaptable solutions for various work environments. They provide secluded spaces within open office layouts, ensuring employees have access to areas where they can focus without distractions.
For example, a cafe with a bank of individual user privacy pods, such as our WiggleRoom Pods as seen in the café area in our showroom, can effectively separate workspaces from social areas, balancing collaboration with the need for privacy. Each pod can be furnished to support different uses, from a lounge chair for relaxation to a task chair and worksurface for focused work.
In addition to pods, larger structures, such as our WiggleRoom Super Structure, offer additional flexibility. These structures come in various sizes, such as a 6' x 8' private office or a 12' x 16' conference room. Smaller structures can act as private offices allowing for uninterrupted focus and productivity, providing quiet spaces for individual tasks or confidential conversations. Larger structures can act as on-demand conference rooms, offering collaborative areas where teams can meet without disturbing adjacent workstations. Optional fully enclosed ceilings enhance acoustic privacy, ensuring a quiet and focused environment.
By integrating these privacy solutions, organizations can create dynamic workspaces that meet diverse needs, promoting both collaboration and individual productivity.
4. Technology Meets Design
Integrating technology into wall systems is increasingly prevalent as businesses seek to enhance productivity and connectivity in the workplace. Architectural design now often includes provisions for advanced technology, transforming walls from mere dividers into dynamic, multifunctional surfaces.
By incorporating monitors and conferencing technology into wall systems, organizations can support seamless communication between remote employees and their on-site colleagues. This integration is not just about functionality; it also enhances the aesthetic appeal of a workspace by maintaining a clean, uncluttered look. Architectural walls designed for tech integration can house screens and other devices without compromising the design integrity of the space.
For instance, in our showroom, we showcased how WiggleRoom Super Structure and 22' x 14' Lightline low profile conference rooms support integrated power. These configurations illustrated how technology can be seamlessly embedded into walls for modern work environments.
These solutions represent a crucial intersection of design and functionality, blending cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design. This approach ensures that workspaces are not only visually appealing but also equipped to support the demands of modern communication and collaboration.
5. Expressive Finish Options
Providing a range of finish options is crucial to meeting the varied aesthetic goals of clients. Endless looks can be achieved through expressive finish options, including film applied to glass, custom graphic inkjet-printed panel shells, markerboard panel shells, or PET felt inserts in a variety of colors and patterns that can be adhered to magnetic steel panel shells.
Design elegance and heightened style can also be achieved with various door pulls, from a matte black pull with gold accents to an oversized brushed gold option, both of which were featured in our showroom. These elements allow for a high degree of customization, ensuring that architectural walls can complement any interior design scheme.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to frame color and finish for architectural wall and pods. For example, the WiggleRoom Super Structure frames in our showroom featured Raw Jasper and Hazy Jade paint colors. These trendy, nature-inspired hues were also used as accents and upholstery options on surrounding furniture for a cohesive, modern monochromatic look. Powdercoat paints for KI Wall solutions are offered in both smooth and textured finishes, providing additional design versatility.
By offering a wide array of finish options, architectural walls can be tailored to suit any design preference, ensuring that spaces are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. This flexibility allows designers and clients to create unique, personalized environments that meet their specific needs and discerning tastes.
6. The Evolution of Health & Well-Being
While the discussion of well-being in the workplace continues to take center stage, the healthcare industry can also leverage the benefits of architectural walls. From acoustic performance to ease of cleanability to address infection control, architectural walls support the well-being of employees and healthcare patients alike.
Architectural walls provide superior sound insulation compared to traditional drywall, ensuring privacy and reducing noise pollution. This is particularly important in healthcare settings, where confidentiality and a calm atmosphere are paramount. For example, our Genius and Evoke architectural wall products excel in acoustic privacy, making them ideal for exam rooms, provider offices, consultation rooms, and nurse stations.
Ease of cleanability is another critical factor in promoting well-being, especially in healthcare environments. Architectural walls can be designed with materials that resist contamination and are easy to clean, supporting infection control protocols. This capability is vital in maintaining a healthy environment for both patients and healthcare workers.
The interior cavity of architectural wall panels can house essential utilities such as electrical wiring, hot and cold piping, and plumbing chases. This versatility makes architectural walls a practical choice for healthcare facilities, allowing for the integration of necessary infrastructure without compromising design.
Daylighting is another critical aspect of well-being supported by architectural walls. Glass wall panels, whether full-height or partial-height clerestory windows or transoms, allow natural light to penetrate deep into interior spaces, enhancing mood, reducing eye strain, and increasing productivity. By maximizing natural light, these walls create a brighter, more inviting environment that promotes overall well-being. Our Lightline walls, for example, are designed to facilitate daylighting while maintaining privacy and acoustic performance, making them an excellent choice for any setting desiring to promote well-being.
7. Sustainability
Sustainability continues to be a key focus in the architectural wall industry, with a growing emphasis on eco-friendly materials and practices. No longer a choice between high aesthetics or sustainable performance, designers and architects expect architectural wall solutions that look stunning and contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment.
The use of sustainable materials, such as recycled and locally sourced components, is crucial. For instance, the industry is moving toward using recycled materials, like denim insulation as featured in our showroom, which reduces waste and promotes resource efficiency. Locally sourced materials minimize transportation emissions, further reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects. At KI Wall, we seek to reduce carbon emissions by sourcing local materials, supplied and shipped within 500 miles.
Considerations for the circular economy are also critical for the design and construction of architectural walls. Landfill reduction and construction waste management can be promoted with panel pre-assembly, which generates less waste compared to traditional "stick-built" products. Unitized walls can be moved and reconfigured easily, reducing waste and labor.
High-quality architectural walls built for longevity and compatibility with longstanding spaces also support resource reuse. Features like removable panel shells allow for easy updates and repairs, ensuring minimal resource use and reducing installation and reconfiguration time and labor.
These practices reflect the industry's commitment to sustainability, showing how design and functionality can coexist with environmental responsibility. For detailed information on our commitment to sustainability, refer to our white paper on environmental stewardship through sustainable solutions.
Embracing the Future of Architectural Design
The architectural wall industry is at the forefront of transforming workspaces into more acoustic-friendly, technologically advanced, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable environments.
By embracing curved walls for their soft visuals and dramatic impact, leveraging acoustic excellence to enhance productivity and privacy, and integrating privacy pods for private spaces within open office layouts, designers can revolutionize modern interiors. The seamless integration of technology within architectural walls ensures connectivity and efficiency, while expressive finish options allow for personalized and stylish environments.
The commitment to well-being underscores the importance of acoustic performance, cleanability, and adaptability in enhancing physical and psychological comfort. Moreover, the industry's focus on sustainability through the adoption of a circular economy approach reduces waste, supports regional materials, and extends the lifecycle of building components.
We appreciate all who visited us during NeoCon and helped identify these themes through engaging and thoughtful conversations. With our product portfolio and expert team, we are ready to support any future project you have. We encourage you to contact a KI Wall sales representative to continue this conversation and discuss how we can support your unique design vision.
For additional inspiration, take a virtual tour of our NeoCon showroom.