A few short years ago, bamboo interior finish manufacturer Smith & Fong made industry waves — while dampening the audio variety, that is — when it introduced stunning wall panels that boast good looks, responsibly harvested wood and cutting-edge acoustical properties. Called PlybooSound and Linear Sound, the handsome cladding products looked completely decorative in nature but were really workhorses with an NRC rating of anywhere from 0.50 to 0.70 on average.
Now these revolutionary products are being made into ceiling systems, too, offering a warmer, richer and more attractive alternative to the typical acoustic ceiling grid. The new line is aptly named Plyboo Ceilings and comprises 40 different carved or textured designs taken from the company’s most popular panel collections including Reveal, Sound, Linear and Linear Sound.
As their names hint, the Linear and Linear Sound families sport varied linear patterns, some of which have asymmetrical crosshatch structures inspired by the movement of hand-loomed fabric. Reveal’s designs are twofold, featuring a carved face that reveals inner core layers behind them. And the Sound collection is defined by intriguing perforated patterns that range from smaller dots and dashes to varied-length slots positioned vertically, horizontally or on an angle (the last of which is like a graphic representation of a rain shower).
© Rien van Rijthoven
Like their wall counterparts, Plyboo Ceilings are constructed from 100-percent FSC-certified bamboo and incorporate QuietWall Technology as well as Smith & Fong’s proprietary RealCore technology for bidirectional stability. Available in a 4-by-10-foot size, the panels come in ¾- or ½-inch thicknesses, in Class B or C fire-rated versions and in a range of finishes from natural to amber to noir stain. All of the products pass VOC emissions standards ULEF (ultra-low emitting formaldehyde).
© Rien van Rijthoven