Designing Workplace Acoustics with Mycelium Panels

Mycelium-based materials are emerging as alternatives to conventional building products in architecture and interior design. At Three Chamberlain Square in Birmingham, UK, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB Studios) installed more than 150 m² of Mogu PLUMA acoustic panels. The workplace combines acoustic treatment with a biobased material for interior applications.

Acoustic Treatment for Shared Spaces

Three Chamberlain Square forms part of the Paradise Birmingham masterplan. Reception, shared areas and hospitality spaces required acoustic treatment to reduce reverberation in busy environments. FCB Studios chose Mogu PLUMA panels as both an acoustic solution and a finished architectural surface. As a result, the design avoided additional wall finishes in these areas.

The team integrated more than 150 m² of panels throughout the communal spaces. The installation improves acoustic comfort while creating a consistent material language across the interior.

Mycelium as an Interior Material

Mogu manufactures PLUMA from mycelium, the vegetative root structure of fungi. The company developed the material as a biobased alternative to conventional acoustic products.

For this project, FCB Studios selected the Fluted surface profile because it echoes the Corinthian columns of Birmingham Town Hall, which stands opposite the building. Ribbed moulds shape the panels during cultivation and create subtle variations between individual elements. The designers combined the Fluted texture with the colours A015 Mushroom and A003 Fern to create a natural appearance throughout the shared spaces.

Material Selection and End-of-Life Options

The project team considered both the biobased composition and the acoustic performance when selecting the material. According to Mogu, users can process the panels into new panel production at the end of their service life. Under suitable conditions, the material can also biodegrade naturally.

The panels combine sound absorption and a finished surface in a single product. Consequently, they remove the need for an additional decorative layer in the specified areas.

Project Overview

Three Chamberlain Square is part of the Paradise Birmingham masterplan in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB Studios) designed the project for Federated Hermes, while MEPC managed the development. The team installed more than 150 m² of Mogu PLUMA acoustic panels with a Fluted finish in reception, shared spaces and hospitality areas. The panels feature the colours A015 Mushroom and A003 Fern.

Source & photos: Mogu