Stilla: sustainable acoustic panels

Stilla's secret advantage

In a world that is increasingly loud and busy, expectations around indoor comfort are higher than ever. Belgian regulations also mandate acoustic comfort in buildings to improve the well-being of occupants. With growing demand for high-quality circular solutions, Stilla has established itself as a market leader. Their secret weapon? The academic acoustic knowledge they possess. Thanks to this expertise, Stilla guarantees its clients the best results, even in the most complex projects. “It’s always about the question: how can we improve the human experience?”

Acoustics used to be a luxury; today it is a necessity. Without proper acoustic design, modern, busy life becomes unsustainable. Driven by public expectations and Belgian legislation, organizations are improving the acoustics of their spaces. Yet not every acoustic intervention is equally high-quality or sustainable. With its academic expertise, Stilla ensures the most effective and durable solution for every acoustic challenge. This knowledge is not only available to their clients but also to architects navigating the complex landscape of abstract acoustic recommendations.

User experience as a guiding principle

For this circular company, addressing acoustic problems doesn’t start with measurements—it starts with the human experience. “Stilla can translate between human experience and technical solutions. And that’s very rare,” explains Sigert De Jean, acoustician at the Brussels-based company. Everything begins with a person-to-person conversation. “People will say things like ‘I’m going crazy,’ ‘I’m distracted,’ or ‘my colleagues speak too loudly.’ We interpret that and translate it into technical solutions,” Sigert illustrates.

The great strength of Stilla is that it speaks both languages: the concrete language of the end-user and the technical language of regulators and engineers. This sets it apart from other firms that approach acoustics purely from a technical standpoint, often overlooking the human experience.

Making this translation requires a solid foundation. “Interpreting human experiences and translating them into technical solutions takes a lot of experience. It takes years to really master it,” says Sigert, an academically trained acoustician who has been honing his skills for decades. In translating human stories into technical theory, important details are filtered and applied to achieve the desired user outcome. Conversely, the impact of theoretical choices on end-users is also assessed.

(Correct) Measurement is Knowledge

Years of accumulated knowledge are a prerequisite for meaningful and high-quality measurements. “Anyone can take measurements and generate data, but numbers without strategy rarely provide useful insights,” Sigert explains. The experienced acoustician makes the difference by making intelligent decisions about what and how to measure, and under what conditions. Quality measurements clearly show what needs to be done. “For small, standard spaces, you can get away with rules of thumb. When a project is more complex, expertise makes the difference.”

Rules of thumb only indicate how many panels are needed—they don’t show how to deploy them optimally. “Much of the performance depends on how you use the product in the space,” Sigert clarifies. Companies that rely solely on rules of thumb to tackle acoustic problems often overlook panel placement. This results in more return visits, longer project timelines, higher costs, less efficiency, and increased conflict. “It breaks my heart when I hear clients describe past experiences with acoustics, knowing I could have solved persistent problems that were perfectly fixable. That really gets my blood boiling.” Stilla commits to applying all its knowledge and experience to deliver projects without unpleasant surprises—neither in practice nor in budget.

Grâce à son expertise académique, Stilla peut également calculer précisément comment atteindre un résultat optimal avec un minimum de matériaux. Cela est non seulement avantageux financièrement pour les clients, mais aussi responsable sur le plan écologique. « Même si nos matières premières sont recyclées, nous avons la responsabilité de les utiliser correctement », souligne Sigert. « Une gestion responsable des ressources implique d’évaluer précisément les besoins. Rien ne remplace la mesure et le calcul. » Stilla vise à travailler dans le respect des délais, du budget et avec efficacité, pour garantir la satisfaction de l’utilisateur final.

A valuable partner for architects

With its internal academic knowledge, Stilla is also a valuable partner for architects who must now comply with strict Belgian regulations regarding building acoustics. “The pressure on architects is immense. Aesthetics, stability, safety, comfort… the idea that you must be an expert in all these areas seems almost impossible.” That’s why architects rely on specialized experts—even in acoustics. Sigert frequently receives questions from architects struggling with technical standards and figures, and how they translate into practice. “It’s reassuring for architects to have a partner with acoustic expertise who understands their human, creative vision and can bridge it to technical solutions.”

Stilla supports architects in interpreting complex acoustic reports and recommendations, providing practical solutions. “We can read, interpret, and translate these reports perfectly so the architect is confident they meet the required standards.” For architects who bear ultimate responsibility for the buildings they design, Stilla is a reliable partner.

Finally, Sigert leaves this message: “I strongly encourage you to talk to us. Ask questions. Human contact is essential to find the right solution for an acoustic problem.”