Warmth, Rhythm and Acoustic Comfort in Cardiff

Warmth, Rhythm and Acoustic Comfort in Cardiff

At PwC Cardiff, acoustic ceilings and wall coverings made from ARCHISONIC® Felt bring structure, warmth and acoustic comfort into a people-centred workplace at One Central Square.

PwC’s new Welsh headquarters at One Central Square brings its Cardiff team into a workplace designed for connection, collaboration and client engagement. Created by ID:SR / Sheppard Robson Architects LLP, the office puts people at the centre while drawing on local context, warm materiality and a strong sense of place.

Across the project, Impact Acoustic applications work through ceilings and walls rather than as a single repeated solution. Bespoke Grids, Ceiling Panels, Wave Ceiling Baffles and Wall Coverings create a layered acoustic palette in warm natural tones.

Ceilings with different kinds of structure

The ceiling strategy changes from area to area. In some spaces, bespoke ceiling grids create a clear architectural framework overhead. Its suspended structure gives the ceiling depth and order, while allowing acoustic material, colour and spatial rhythm to work together in one field.

Modular systems bring a more regular ceiling expression where the interior needs clarity and repetition. It supports acoustic comfort without making the ceiling feel heavy, helping the workplace remain open and legible.

Stone Ceiling Panels add another character. Their softer, more organic form introduces a quieter layer above selected areas, bringing a more natural expression into the workplace while continuing the acoustic strategy.

Movement above the room

In other areas, bespoke Wave Ceiling Baffles create a more fluid overhead gesture. Their curved rhythm softens the ceiling line and introduces movement where the interior benefits from a less static expression.

This mix of ceiling solutions gives the project its range. Some zones feel more structured, others more relaxed, others more expressive. The acoustic treatment follows the way each space is used, rather than forcing one visual language across the whole office.

Walls that add warmth and texture

The wall applications add a quieter but equally important layer. Wall Coverings such as Fon bring acoustic material onto the vertical surfaces, adding texture, depth and a more tactile rhythm to meeting and shared areas.

This is especially useful in a workplace shaped by many types of interaction. Client conversations, team exchange, focused work and informal meetings all carry sound differently. By moving between ceiling and wall applications, the acoustic strategy becomes more distributed and more closely tied to the everyday use of the office.

Colour as part of the workplace identity

The colour palette gives the project a strong visual coherence. 239 Terracotta and other warm natural tones bring softness into the interior, while the broader ARCHISONIC® Felt palette allows different applications to feel related without becoming repetitive.

Colour is not treated as a surface finish alone. It becomes part of how the acoustic systems belong to the workplace: warm enough to support hospitality, precise enough for a professional environment, and varied enough to give different settings their own character.

All applications are made from ARCHISONIC® Felt, a lightweight acoustic material made from 100% PET with 60% certified post-consumer content. Its precise cut geometry allows the same material family to shift from bespoke ceiling grids to modular systems, organic ceiling panels, flowing baffles and fitted wall coverings.

Location: Cardiff, Wales
Design: ID:SR / Sheppard Robson Architects LLP
Photography: Jack Hobhouse