26 Examples of Creative Baffle Ceilings
Discover baffles that introduce rhythm, acoustic control, and colour to the ceiling
Blog info
Date
Author
Rockfon
Reading time
5 minutes
Topics
Interior Design
Quick summary:From linear arrangements to wave-shaped baffles, explore baffle ceiling ideas in offices, hotels, schools, and other spaces around the world.
From linear arrangements to wave-shaped baffles, explore baffle ceiling ideas in offices, hotels, schools, and other spaces around the world.
One of the approaches explored in our guide to 7 types of open ceilings, baffle ceilings are a unique and remarkable ceiling format. Installed as individual vertical panels, they can retain the exposed soffit, services, and generous ceiling heights while introducing rhythm and shape.
Beyond their visual impact, acoustic ceiling baffles offer powerful sound absorption without requiring a traditional wall-to-wall suspended ceiling. Rockfon acoustic baffles comprise two methods of installation: they can be installed in rows using grids, or installed individually using hooks or wires. The baffles are entirely adaptable and can be installed in a variety of applications. The possibilities range from linear arrangements to waves, angled compositions, alternating directions, and installations completed with complementary lighting. From offices and schools to libraries, hotels, and airport lounges, explore 26 examples of baffle ceilings that affirm the architectural possibilities of this versatile acoustic solution.
Bobitz Elementary School
Bobitz, Germany
At Bobitz Elementary School, 336 Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles form a baffle ceiling across the new multi-purpose atrium, helping control reverberation during lessons, gatherings, and events. The baffles are paired with Rockfon Eclipse floating ceiling panels in the Circle shape and circular lighting fixtures, creating a rich ceiling composition, while Rockfon Lamella wall panels provide additional sound absorption around the stairwells.
DaCapo College
Sittard, the Netherlands
At DaCapo College in Sittard, Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles form an open baffle ceiling in the auditorium, where the high ceiling and extensive glass and concrete surfaces presented an acoustic challenge. Installed vertically across the space, the baffles absorb sound without lowering the perceived ceiling height, while their simple linear arrangement suits the open architecture of the college.
Futures Community College
Plymouth, England
In the Futures Community College in Plymouth, 300 Rockfon framed acoustic baffles form a baffle ceiling within the double-height central hub. The baffles provide sound absorption while retaining access to services, with their steel frames supporting their durability.
The Northern School of Art
Middlesborough, England
At this learning facility, Rockfon Universal Baffles are installed across spaces including the library, workshops, canteen, lecture rooms, and entrance hall. Installed around lighting and building services, the baffles control sound while leaving the concrete structure exposed, with high light reflectance helping to make the most of natural light.
MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
At this MEININGER hotel property, an exposed open plenum is given a colourful twist with a baffle ceiling inspired by Vincent van Gogh's sunflowers. Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles suspended across the lobby introduce bold colour while helping control sound.
ALO Office Building
Trondheim, Norway
At the ALO Office Building in Trondheim, HUS Arkitekter used a baffle ceiling to retain the character of the exposed structural concrete while controlling sound across the workplace. Rockfon Universal Baffles and Rockfon Contour are installed throughout the working areas and the atrium, leaving services accessible and giving the interiors a greater sense of height. Beneath the glass roof, the acoustic baffles also help diffuse and filter direct sunlight into the offices below.
Lichtberg School
Eiterfeld, Germany
More than 500 frameless Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles provide sound absorption across the large auditorium in this school in Germany. Three different baffle sizes are used, with some suspended from wide-span beams beneath the ceiling and others mounted vertically above the glazed facade using a custom fixing solution.
ALO Office Building
Trondheim, Norway
At this other space at the ALO Office, Rockfon Universal Baffles are installed beneath the glass roof, help diffuse and filter direct sunlight into the offices below.
American School of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
At the American School of Barcelona, 800 acoustic baffles form a baffle ceiling across the sports hall, which also serves as an auditorium. The baffles help control sound in the large multipurpose space, reducing noise and supporting clearer speech during sports and events.
Gemini College
Ridderkerk, the Netherlands
At Gemini College in Ridderkerk, nearly 1000 Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles create a baffle ceiling within the high central hall, practice rooms, and music rooms. For the project, a special suspension system was developed to accommodate baffles of different heights and withstand wind loads, allowing the large installation to follow the school's distinctive architecture while controlling reverberation.
Lysgården
Trondheim, Norway
Around 6000 acoustic baffles create a dramatic baffle ceiling throughout Lysgården, an office building in Trondheim, Norway designed by HUS Arkitekter. Rockfon Contour baffles are suspended across the open offices, while Rockfon Universal Baffles fill the atrium beneath its vast glass roof. Here, their studied arrangement also filters direct sunlight into stripes of light and shade, an effect inspired by sunlight passing through a forest canopy.
Synechron Belfast Offices
Belfast, Ireland
At Synechron's offices in Belfast, Ireland, a baffle ceiling in the meeting room provides sound absorption while retaining the open soffit. In other areas, Rockfon Eclipse floating ceiling panels introduce a dramatic ceiling treatment.
Permeke Library
Antwerp, Belgium
In this library, a baffle ceiling consisting of more than 1300 Rockfon Universal Baffles in the colours Stone and Hemp improves acoustics without concealing the exposed structure. The acoustic baffles reduce reverberation across the library's busy public spaces while retaining the open, industrial character that makes baffle ceilings particularly suited to this type of interior.
CentrePoint Sport and Leisure Centre
Sydney, Australia
For this swimming pool, Rockfon Humitec acoustic baffles form a baffle ceiling above, controlling sound in a space dominated by hard, reflective surfaces. The ISO Class 2 baffles feature a galvanised steel frame engineered for humid and corrosive Class D environments, making them suited to the challenging conditions of an indoor pool.
Frydenberg School
Oslo, Norway
At Frydenberg School in Oslo, a former industrial building was converted into bright learning spaces defined by high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick, concrete, and beams. Rockfon acoustic ceiling baffles were installed along with Rockfon Koral acoustic ceiling tiles as well as acoustic wall panels to control reverberation across rooms of varying heights while retaining the character of the original industrial architecture.
TAURON Arena Kraków
Kraków, Poland
At the TAURON Arena Kraków, Rockfon acoustic baffles form part of the acoustic strategy for the vast multipurpose sports and entertainment venue. Suspended as spatial sound absorbers, the baffle ceilings helps control sound across the large auditorium while retaining easy access to the installations and systems running beneath the soffit.
Malmö Arena
Malmö, Sweden
At Malmö Arena, white 1200 x 200 mm Rockfon acoustic baffles form a baffle ceiling above a breakout space within the events complex. Installed vertically beneath the soffit, the baffles provide sound absorption while maintaining the open character of this informal space.
Heistad Middle School
Porsgrunn, Norway
In this middle school, white acoustic ceiling baffles introduce sound absorption across the learning environment while adding a contemporary linear feature to the ceiling. The baffle ceiling helps control reverberation and supports a more comfortable setting for teaching and learning.
Caldicot School
Monmouthshire, UK
For this secondary school, white Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles in a 1200 x 300 mm format form part of the acoustic strategy. The baffle ceiling helps control sound while supporting the open, flexible character of learning spaces designed to make extensive use of natural light.
ACS Offices
Dublin, Ireland
For the Dublin offices of Air Charter Service, both rectangular and wave-shaped Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles create unique baffle ceilings across the open-plan working areas. Suspended directly from the soffit, the baffles help control reverberation while retaining elements of the existing ceiling, with the wave forms adding a sculptural feature above the workspace.
Littleport Academy
Cambridgeshire, UK
Here, acoustic baffles form part of a wider ceiling strategy across the £37.5 million education and leisure complex. Used with Rockfon acoustic ceilings and wall panels, the baffle ceilings help control sound across spaces with different acoustic and installation requirements, including learning areas designed for pupils with special educational needs.
ROCKWOOL GBS Offices
Poznań, Poland
At the ROCKWOOL GBS offices in Poznań, Poland designed by Comodo Group, the baffles are part of a very varied acoustic scheme that also includes Rockfon Eclipse ceiling islands, Rockfon Color-all ceiling tiles, Rockfon Lamella modular wall slats, Rockfon Senses wall panels, and Rockfon Canva acoustic solutions.
WPP Manchester Campus
Manchester, UK
At WPP's Manchester Campus, white Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles are installed above flexible seating areas, retaining the exposed ceilings that give the offices their industrial character. The rectangular baffles are interspersed with linear lighting to create a rhythmic baffle ceiling, while their simple suspension system allows them to be demounted and repositioned as working areas change.
Wegscheider Office Solution
Heßdorf-Hannberg, Germany
At this office, 51 wave-shaped Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles form a sculptural baffle ceiling above the office. The flowing arrangement adds movement to the interior while absorbing sound, helping to reduce reverberation and limit distractions from conversations and phone calls in the busy workspace.
Phoenix Academy
Telford, UK
At Phoenix Academy in Telford, Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles create open baffle ceilings in classrooms and other spaces where traditional suspended ceilings could not be installed. In the double-height vocational mall, more than 300 baffles follow the slope of the roof at heights of six to nine metres, while elsewhere they are arranged around sprinklers, lighting, and other ceiling services.
Air France & KLM Lounge, Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
At the Air France & KLM Lounge at Schiphol Airport, white Rockfon Contour acoustic baffles sweep across the ceiling in flowing lines inspired by aircraft contrails. Set against black Rockfon Color-all ceiling tiles in Charcoal, the baffle ceiling introduces movement and visual cues that help passengers navigate and find structure within the large, open lounge.
Ready to design your own baffle ceiling? Explore all Rockfon acoustic ceiling baffles
Related blog posts
Visit the Rockfon Blog for inspiration in wall and ceiling design, room acoustics, building certifications, and more.
Have a question?
Whether you’re planning a project or need more information, our team is here to help.
Prefer to speak to someone locally?
Contact our local Rockfon team for region-specific support.