In the United Kingdom, acoustic panels made from hemp and mycelium were used in the ceiling of a dance music tent at the recent Glastonbury music festival.
The panels were developed by British DJ Floating Points and Magical Mushroom Company. Hung from the domed ceiling of the “Sunflower Sound System,” the panels reduced echo, reverberation and unwanted reflections inside the tent. Festival organizers claim it was the first time such a large-scale stage has used the biomaterial.
According to Paul Gilligan of MMC, mycelium’s sound-absorbing qualities make it perfect for such an application. “We know it’s got the acoustic properties that people want, but they need to see it being used,” Gilligan told Dezeen. “And there’s nothing better than a dance tent, is there, to prove its performance?”