Figs of Paddington: Using acoustic panels as an art medium to sculpt sound.

Figs of Paddington: Using acoustic panels as an art medium to sculpt sound.

In the heart of UNSW's Paddington Campus, a 7.5m tall artwork now stands both as a visual landmark and a high performance acoustic solution. Titled Figs of Paddington and created by Jonty, the piece draws direct inspiration from the suburb's iconic Moreton Bay figs, some of which are over 150 years old and define the local streetscape with their vast, layered canopies.

Rather that treating acoustics as a background requirement, the project team reimagined perforated fibre cement panels as the primary art medium for an outdoor installation. Jonty translated the forms of fig canopies, aerial roots and dappled light into a bold graphic language that is expressed through three Decor System products:

• DecorLux Max - compressed fibre cement panels engineered for tough environments, resisting heat, moisture and humidity without warping.
• DecorSlot - slotted fibre cement panels that introduce linear acoustic detail.
• DecorLux - perforated fibre cement lining panels that deliver consistent acoustic control across large surfaces.

Made with over 75,000 perforations, each product features a different pattern, allowing the artwork to diffuse noise and improve speech clarity in the open, high traffic zone of the Art & Design faculty while maintaining a refined, site-specific aesthetic. The non-combustible fibre cement construction ensures the installation can withstand harsh outdoor conditions without compromising performance or form.

The result is a space that reads visually as a contemporary nod to Paddington's fig-lined streets and performs acoustically as a calm, focused environment for teaching and collaboration.

Figs of Paddington demonstrates how architectural acoustics can move beyond specification to become a central storytelling device, turning product into place and performance into art.