The Khronos divider system, a collaborative innovation between Spanish brand Kriskadecor and designer Rafa Ortega, represents a sophisticated evolution of the space partition. Moving beyond mere visual separation, Khronos leverages Kriskadecor’s signature anodized aluminum chain links to integrate both aesthetic beauty and crucial acoustic performance within a single, dynamic framework. The system achieves this dual function by interspersing the fine metallic chains with decorative modules crafted from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic. This blend of shimmering, ephemeral chains and solid, textured recycled material allows Khronos to offer a tailored balance between the visual arts and sound absorption, creating an immersive, harmonic experience ideal for contemporary offices, hospitality spaces, and high-end residential interiors.
Rethinking the Room Divider: Form Meets Function
The core innovation of the Khronos system lies in its dual dedication to visual lightness and functional acoustic control. Traditional room dividers often rely on heavy, opaque materials to delineate space and manage sound, frequently sacrificing spatial openness and light flow in the process. Khronos overturns this paradigm by utilizing the very element of ephemerality—the fine, delicate, and often reflective aluminum chain links—that Kriskadecor is renowned for.
The designer, Rafa Ortega, successfully adapted these ceiling chains into a vertical partition system. The critical design intervention was the insertion of geometric, solid components made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic into the hanging chains. These recycled plastic elements perform the crucial function of breaking up the sound waves. By adding mass and texture without compromising the system’s transparency, these inserts significantly enhance the product’s acoustic performance, effectively absorbing background noise and creating zones of quiet immersion within a bustling open-plan environment.
The Dynamic Design Streams: Sòlid and Líquid
To cater to diverse interior concepts, the Khronos range features six distinct designs, thoughtfully grouped by Ortega and Kriskadecor into two conceptual streams: Sòlid (Solid) and Líquid (Liquid). These streams offer different material and visual narratives, allowing architects and designers to select a system that aligns with the desired mood and contextual setting. Each design within the collection is an exploration of form, texture, and the psychological impact of light diffusion.
The Sòlid stream, encompassing the Boho, Rosella, and Metropolis variations, draws direct inspiration from the tangible, built world. These designs abstract elements from architecture, city skylines, and natural flora, providing a visual density that references permanence. By contrast, the Líquid series—featuring Peixos (Fish), Mantarraya (Manta Ray), and Meduses (Jellyfish)—conveys concepts of dynamism, movement, and ephemerality. These liquid-inspired designs evoke the gentle, ever-changing qualities of water and wind, lending a fluid, almost illusionary quality to the partition. The Mantarraya design, for instance, specifically draws upon sea-inspired visuals to create a sense of underwater movement and grace.
The Power of Customisation and Materiality
A hallmark of Kriskadecor’s product philosophy is comprehensive customisation, and the Khronos system is no exception. This flexibility is vital, especially for designers working on bespoke projects, allowing the system to be precisely tailored to the scale, aesthetic, and functional requirements of any installation. Khronos is fully customisable in terms of both size and colour, ensuring that it can integrate seamlessly with any pre-existing architectural palette or design scheme. The aluminum chains can be finished in a vast spectrum of anodized colours, ranging from deep metallics to vibrant hues, providing boundless expressive potential.
The material composition itself is a testament to the system’s innovative blend of texture and ethics. The hanging elements utilize the brand’s signature fine aluminum chains, known for their lightness, durability, and mesmerizing ability to capture and reflect ambient light, creating a shimmering, almost textile-like effect. Crucially, the solid inserts are crafted entirely from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic. This commitment to sustainable materials ensures that the Khronos system is not just an aesthetically advanced product but also an environmentally conscious choice for contemporary design that values circularity and responsible sourcing.
An Immersive Experience and Harmonic Balance
Beyond the technical specifications and material composition, Khronos is fundamentally designed to offer an “immersive experience.” Kriskadecor emphasizes that each installation strives for a “perfect balance between aesthetic beauty and acoustic performance.” The intention is to create spaces that “invite pause and immersion in a harmony of emotions.” This concept is particularly relevant in the modern workplace, where the need for flexible zoning and reduced noise pollution is paramount.
The Khronos system, therefore, functions as a visual and auditory veil. The chains create a beautiful, semi-transparent screen that maintains sightlines and light transmission while the PET inserts subtly dampen the sound environment. This combination transforms the divider from a static architectural element into a dynamic piece of functional art, one that subtly manipulates the perception of space and sound. By achieving this delicate harmony, Khronos establishes a new standard for acoustic products that prioritize both sensory refinement and the expressive potential of design.
