MERKATA‑VT Office Fit‑Out, AFI City Zmaj, Belgrade, Serbia
Acoustical Comfort: Zoran Šobić, ICH doo Belgrade
Design: Predrag Stevanović, PS Arch Belgrade, Zoran Šobić, ICH doo Belgrade
Photography: Jovana Stašević
2,000 m² over two levels | Acoustics-Driven Interior Design | Completed April‑May 2025
Concept & Brief
The project addressed a clear objective: to create a modern workplace optimized for collaboration, focus, and wellbeing. Covering two levels in AFI City Zmaj, the 2,000 m² office fit‑out was conceived to balance open-space energy with acoustic control and visual comfort.
Key Challenges
Open-plan layouts naturally foster transparency and teamwork—but often at the cost of sound privacy and comfort. We responded by developing an integrated acoustic strategy that makes noise control invisible yet effective
Acoustic Design Strategy
Ceiling‑mounted absorbers arranged in geometric patterns, aligning with lighting grids and dampening noise in meeting zones and collaboration hubs
Textile flooring with irregular subtle patterns, reducing mid- and high‑frequency reverberation
Soft furniture clusters serving dual roles as visual separators and acoustic buffers in lounge and workstation zones
Spatial Zoning & Flexibility
Flexible work zones were defined using furniture, shelving, and greenery, creating visual and acoustic micro-environments
Enclosed quiet zones and meeting rooms separated by acoustically treated partition systems
Folding walls and movable elements enable rapid reconfiguration while maintaining privacy levels
Acoustic elements were purposefully embedded into the aesthetic narrative—not concealed:
Sculptural ceiling installations and graphic-panel absorbers double as artwork
Materiality (felt, wood, printed panels) serves both as sound diffusers and visual anchors
Outcome
The space now supports intuitive behaviour:
Collaborative zones near hubs, focus zones in quieter corners
A well-balanced acoustic environment where distractions are minimized
The result is a workplace that feels right—because its acoustic identity is seamlessly integrated into its design essence
