Swiss company TOPAKUSTIK AG remains one of the most popular acoustic brands today. It was founded in 1991 by Arthur Fries, a woodworking entrepreneur. Not only did he recognize the potential of acoustic products, he also laid the foundation for the brand’s success. His name was inextricably linked with the history of TOPAKUSTIK until 2020, when he resigned from his positions as chairman of the board and CEO.
TOPPERFO is the collective category for all of their perforated products. From the very beginning, the NH Akustik + Design AG foundation has played a significant role in the development of the product family, both in terms of product design and manufacturing processes, which utilize the latest laser technologies. And development continues…
Our series of articles presents some of the company’s most notable projects.
Reichstag, Berlin, 1994
Berlin, as the new (old) capital, has undergone numerous transformations. For the spectacular reconstruction of the Reichstag, star architect Foster was looking for new ideas and products when TOPAKUSTIK had only been in existence for a few years. However, good products quickly find their place in the market.
During the renovation, the three round walls behind the counter were completely covered with TOPAKUSTIK cladding, while several thousand square meters of surface area were installed in the rear rooms. This project marked the start of TOPAKUSTIK’s international success.
KKL, Lucerne, 1998
According to some, the Culture and Congress Center (KKL) in Lucerne was the venue for Topakustik’s domestic trial.
Parisian architect Jean Nouvel ordered the implementation of wall cladding with slotted holes in his concept. During the initial sampling process, the two large-scale prototypes were supplemented with a TOPAKUSTIK version. Jean Nouvel was very satisfied with the aesthetics and excellent sound absorption properties of TOPAKUSTIK, so he decided to choose this wall covering. As a result, thousands of square meters of elements were delivered to the site for the work, mainly for the rehearsal and projection rooms. At the same time, the wall covering in the concert hall, made of American cherry wood, also enhances the reputation of this brand.
New York Times, Auditorium, 2007
The New York Times remains one of the most influential American newspapers to this day. Architect Renzo Piano worked on the building’s auditorium, for which TOPAKUSTIK cladding made from a single large American cherry tree trunk was used. The TOPAKUSTIK 19/2 M product was developed specifically for this project and is still considered one of the most popular products today.
The New York Times auditorium was one of the earliest American reference projects, which, thanks to its name and its connection to a famous architect, attracted enormous interest throughout the American market.
