Header: Courtesy of Sabin
Sabin, a Chicago-based acoustic lighting manufacturer, has recently announced LAYER, a new series of planar fixtures. Created to help designers organise space, manage acoustics and introduce visual hierarchy, LAYER fixtures can be stacked or layered to build depth and create transitions.
Light in four shapes
The series launches with four shapes: DISC, OBROUND, TRIANGLE and RECTANGLE, each available unlit or with downlight, linear or diffuse illumination. Inspired by the brand’s continuous exploration of geometric primitives, these four shapes form a system that can be stretched, compressed, and proportioned to suit every environment and design language.
“We wanted to create a tool that gives designers more agency in low-depth or structurally complex ceilings. LAYER delivers structure without bulk, and its flexibility supports the many ways designers think through a space holistically.”
Wes Cox, co-founder of Sabin
Precision in details
Craft and flexibility are the main elements of the LAYER series. Each fixture is built from two layers of 9mm PET felt and finished with a sewn 1.5mm edge that forms a subtle recess along the bottom plane. This construction, marked by a continuous double stitch at the perimeter, creates a precise, refined profile that elevates the fixture beyond the typical raw-edged planar acoustic form.
Customisation
Because LAYER apertures are customisable, designers can locate light based on functional alignment (such as the centreline of a conference table or hallway) without limiting how the LAYER forms are arranged within the ceiling. Its track-based mounting system provides additional field flexibility for hang points, simplifying installation for tenant improvement projects and retrofits where existing mechanical conditions would ordinarily limit suspension layouts.
Technical side
Colour temperatures range from 2700 to 4000K at 90+ CRI, with outputs from 750 to 3,000 lumens. With an NRC rating of 0.85+, LAYER offers acoustic performance suitable for all commercial interiors — from workplaces and hospitality environments to education and healthcare settings.
