Developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of East London, these acoustic panels are made with Sugarcrete® — a high-performance composite from sugarcane bagasse. Using this fibrous waste sourced from a rum distillery in the Costa Tropical of Granada, Spain, we transform this trash into objects with purpose. The shapes draw from the geometries of sprouting of seeds and the upward growth of stalks. Their curves recall both the rolling hills of Granada —where the sugarcane waste is sourced—and the arabesque lines once carried to the region by the Moors, along with the sweet cane.

Sugarcane bagasse is the world’s most abundant crop residue can be sourced from Spain’s Costa Tropical, an important sugarcane-growing region in the EU. The panels were developed through an EU-funded innovation partnership between Julia's design studio, Bagaceira and Sugarcrete® of the University of East London. Combining high acoustic and thermal performance with bold design, the panels support a broader vision: to build a regional bio-based material consortia that links design, agriculture, and circular manufacturing. Rooted in local heritage and global sustainable development goals, the panels embody an inclusive and regenerative approach to material innovation.

Sugarcane fibres left over from sugar or alcohol production are combined with abundant sand-mineral binders and natural pigments, then cast into flat or sculptural panels using digitally fabricated moulds. The panels cure at room temperature—requiring high-temperature no kilns, resins, or VOC-emitting glues—while delivering strong acoustic, thermal, and fire-resistant performance and meeting ISO construction standards. Fully biodegradable and designed for disassembly, the panels lock in biogenic carbon within durable components. The process can repurpose dormant concrete manufacturing infrastructure and adapt to regionally available biomass, making it viable for both regional scalability and global replication.