Quiet Studio at Melbourne Design Week 2025 Exploring Calm and Clarity
Part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, Quiet Studio offers an immersive experience where design, sound and materiality foster calm and physiological restoration, exploring the link between space and wellbeing.
In today’s urban world, where constant phone notifications, bustling crowds and city noise dominate our lives, Quiet Studio offers a much-needed pause. As part of this year’s Melbourne Design Week program – which is presented by the National Gallery of Victoria – this immersive pop-up space explores how design and sound can play a pivotal role in nurturing presence, clarity and calm. By stripping away distractions, it provides visitors with the opportunity to experience how the built environment can support both individual wellbeing and collective healing.
A transdisciplinary collaboration between Autex Acoustics, a global designer and manufacturer of sustainable interior acoustic solutions, architect and artist Matt Bird, founder of Studiobird, and physiotherapist Sammy Prowse, director of Universal Practice, Quiet Studio unites architecture, acoustics and science-based mindfulness practices. The space is both sculptural and functional, offering a cocoon-like environment that minimises overstimulation and promotes tranquillity. Visitors step inside, and the sharp edges of urban life fade, replaced by an atmosphere designed to support reflection, rest and recalibration.
“My sensibility with design has always been immersive,” says Bird. “In this project, it’s about creating a complete environment you can step into, one that gently draws you away from the noise of everyday life and invites a deeper sense of calm and presence.” This holistic approach underpins Quiet Studio, where materials, geometry and acoustics have been thoughtfully selected to positively influence both body and mind.
A defining element of the installation is its attention to sound. Inspired by cymatic patterns – visual forms created by sound vibrations – concentric arches ripple through the space, captivating visitors visually while enhancing acoustic function. Constructed using carbon-neutral panels by Autex Acoustics, the forms absorb ambient noise, creating a focused, immersive experience. “One of the key elements of the design is acoustics,” Bird explains. “How do you create a space that mediates noise, even in a semi-public setting like this? The design incorporates layered, sound-wave-based forms to produce a calming acoustic atmosphere that softens environmental distractions into an atmospheric backdrop.”
For Sammy Prowse, Quiet Studio represents a shift in how we understand the role of design in physical wellbeing. “When you walk into the space, there’s that immediate feeling of ease – a sense we all recognise – but what’s actually happening is a physiological shift,” she says. “Our nervous system moves from being ‘always on,’ alert and reactive to a parasympathetic state, where healing and growth can occur. That’s the power of the space – it transforms the state of the body through design and sound.
“The intersection of design and health is where real potential lies,” she explains. “Every living thing has a vibrational frequency – our cells, our brainwaves – and sound is a way to interact with that. Through this medium, we can help support mood, sleep, even digestion. The built environment, when it’s designed well, doesn’t just change how we feel – it can actually shift our internal state.”
Quiet Studio runs until 25 May at 43 Derby Street, Collingwood. Alongside the installation, a series of events invites further exploration of its themes, including guided meditation and breathwork sessions, and an in-conversation event with Matthew Bird and Sammy Prowse, offering insights into the design process and the science behind it.
