From an innovative blend of flax, regenerated plastic materials and natural raw materials, Bloom is born, the sound-absorbing wall system that introduces a new chapter in the Slalom collections.
Leader in the panorama of acoustic well-being, Slalom stands out for the production of sound-absorbing panels based on the use of fabrics and plastic materials, originating from circular and reuse sources. Currently patent-pending and winner of the Hip Awards and The Best of NeoCon 2024, Bloom combines Slalom's textile know-how with a double ethic: the regeneration of plastic materials and the reuse of bio-based materials obtained from selected biological corridors.
Grasses, petals and colorful flowers stand out gracefully on the wall system, transforming it into a surface that integrates elegantly into different kinds of architectural projects. The possibility of covering the space in height without visible joints, a distinctive feature of Slalom products, amplifies the impact of the floral work, while the Velcro attachment simplifies both installation and if necessary, removal and reuse.
Slalom's close collaboration with architects, who have always been the main ambassadors of the brand on the global scene, fosters the integration of acoustic well-being from the initial stages of each project: an approach that favors new synergies and customized solutions, bringing innovation in the world of acoustics through constant research in the field of materials.
«Twelve years ago, there was very little talk about acoustics» says architect Elettra de Pellegrin, founder of Slalom in 2012; «In the first years we did research and worked with the Polytechnic of Milan to perfect our solutions. There was little scientific literature on the topic, and on the market, there was a total lack of support for architects in the creation phase. »
Today, not only is the company a reality with a strong international scope (considering that it generates 80% of its turnover abroad), but also it is taking a step towards anthropization with Bloom, integrating bio-based solutions within the architectural project. «Research on natural materials understood as accessible and scalable resources constitutes a central theme of production systems oriented towards sustainability» explains de Pellegrin; «to obtain the natural fibers and flower petals necessary for the creation of Bloom, Slalom draws on agricultural land put to rest according to traditional cultivation practices, therefore free of any chemical additives. Furthermore, the mix of herbs and flowers varies with the seasons, giving Bloom surfaces that are always different and, above all, unique. »
Bloom fully embraces the principle of Acousthetics, a neologism coined by Slalom to summarize the combination of acoustic comfort, ethics and aesthetics. This new wall system also stands out as an interpretation of a growing trend in the world of interior design, inspired by the realm of botany, and in particular by the fascinating world of herbariums. The concept of dried plants impressed on sheets of paper, traditionally kept in the Wunderkammer or in the archives of botanical gardens, acquires an original and contemporary dimension with Bloom, especially on a large scale.
