The story of an innovation

What does innovation look like in a curtain? You need to look closely at the light billowing shapes of Texaa’s new soundproofing acoustic curtains to see anything new. First exhibited at architect@work  in Paris and Berlin this autumn, these are the first curtains in the Bordeaux manufacturer’s range that claim to have real soundproofing qualities.

Like with previous innovations, Texaa developed these curtains in response to requests from designers. This kind of committed dialogue and the necessary iterations to find the right solution, have always enabled Texaa to add major innovations to its range, which have sometimes brought change to the whole market (see timeline below). Texaa’s guiding principle is to innovate and thereby give architects the greatest design freedom possible.

More and more architects want to specify curtains to enable users to partition off smaller areas inside large ones. These curtains also need to contribute comfort, especially with regard to ambient noise. Texaa has focussed on this for ten years.

Texaa made its first acoustic curtain in 2011 for the Coulisses expo celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Frac Aquitaine Contemporary Art Foundation. In those days, it was just a sound-absorbing curtain, not a soundproofing one. It was invented in response to a request by the artist and architect Olivier Vadrot, who had been asked to design a system for displaying art works. He wanted to organise smaller areas around the works to create a sense of privacy. To achieve this, Texaa developed a product as only it knows how, by positioning sound-absorbing material behind its always elegant, knitted fabric that is sound-transparent and run-resistant. 

At that time, the curtains served as partitions that also had acoustic properties, serving to reduce sound reverberation inside the volume. The solution from this piece of applied research could have  been one off, but in fact it resulted in a new product that became part of the Texaa range, because it provided an answer for designers’ real needs. Over recent years, these curtains have been modified to improve their performance. They consist of two lengths of sound-absorbing felt wadding with an Aeria cover. This sound-absorbing version of the product remains of course part of the Texaa range.

Today, the new soundproofing acoustic curtain made of six thicknesses of microporous film, extends Texaa’s product range to include a solution that reduces the passage of sound from one side to the other. Like its cousin, it increases comfort inside a volume by reducing sound reverberation, but it also reduces the transmission of sound to neighbouring areas. A series of tests carried out by Texaa’s internal R&D team, backed up by discussions with visitors at the exhibition previews in Paris and Berlin, and final measurements performed in a certified laboratory, has led to what appears to be an optimal compromise: a ready-to-hang curtain that can be drawn almost as easily as a net curtain, which offers a sound reduction index of 10 dB. This is what acousticians generally refer to as “halving the noise experienced”, which is of course a significant improvement in comfort. 

Join us in January, when we will announce the technical specifications along with all safety and environmental characteristics.

 

 

 

 

Texaa’s product range was built through a succession of innovations

1979
Using a run-resistant fabric, originally designed to make shoes and bags, which also happened to be sound-transparent, Texaa creates a range of flexible cladding that offers new acoustic solutions for architects. 

1983
First European patent for vertical slat blinds, designed to tackle sound reverberation in spaces with glazed surfaces.

1986
Texaa pioneers the technique of controlling sound reverberation with isolated objects by placing its sound-absorbing panels in the volume. The method has since become a mainstay in architecture.

1995
Floating clusters of acoustic panels are used.

1998
A range of light accessories easy to install is launched, consisting of Cones, Cubes and Totems.

2012
Following an innovation for the Coulisses exhibition at the Frac Aquitaine Contemporary Art Foundation, single- and double-sided sound-absorbing acoustic curtains are included in the Texaa range.

2015
Based on research carried out by the acoustic engineering branch of Peutz Group, Texaa develops a larger stitch pattern for a project by Renzo Piano in Turin. This is eventually used to create a new open-mesh ceiling system, Strato.

2018
The legacy Vibrasto acoustic cladding’s makeup and installation system is completely revised to improve its environmental footprint.

2019
The new version of Texaa’s slat blinds is protected with an international patent. It eliminates 96% of all light; furthermore 90% of its sound-absorbing material is recycled and manufactured in France. 

2021
New progress in the use of biosourced materials with products covered with a knitted linen version of the Aeria fabric, and the new Kora screens, partly made of local timber.

How can we help? F.A.Q.

How can I get a quote?

By contacting the Texaa business representative of your region by telephone or e-mail and leaving your contact details and what you need. We will send you a quote promptly.

How can I order Texaa products?

Our products are manufactured in our workshop and made available to order. Just contact the Texaa business representative of your region. If you already have a quote, you can also contact the person handling your order: the name is at the top left of your quote.

How do I get my products installed?

Joiners and upholsterers are the best skilled to install our products easily. We work regularly with some professionals, who we can recommend. If you have a tradesperson, who you trust, we can support him/her. You can find our installation instructions and tips here.

Got a technical question?

All our technical data sheets are here. Your regional Texaa business representative can also help; please feel free to contact him/her.

Can I have an appointment?

Our business representatives travel every day to installation sites and to see our customers. Please feel free to contact them and suggest the best dates and times for you, preferably by e-mail.

Lead times

Our products are manufactured to order. Our standard manufacturing time is 3 weeks for most of our products. Non-standard products take from 5 weeks. We also perform miracles on a regular basis! Please feel free to contact us.

Who should I call?

To get a quote, a delivery time or technical information, we recommend you call your regional Texaa business representative, who you can find here.

Order tracking

If you need information about your order, please contact the person in charge of handling it: the name is at the top left of your quote.