Enhancing Acoustics with Sustainable Innovation: Xanita Board at Artscape

When the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra found themselves temporarily displaced from their usual home at the Cape Town City Hall due to renovations, they faced a unique challenge. Their summer concert series needed a new venue, and the Artscape Opera House stepped in as the solution. However, this grand opera house came with a significant acoustic hurdle: a towering five-story flyloft behind the stage. This open space, typically used to house sets and props, lacked the reflective surfaces needed to project the orchestra’s sound effectively to the audience. Without intervention, the music risked being lost in the void rather than resonating through the hall.

Enter Xanita board—a lightweight, sustainable material that proved to be the perfect fix. Known for its structural strength and acoustic properties akin to plasterboard, Xanita board was chosen to craft an acoustic shell for the Artscape stage. This innovative solution not only addressed the sound projection issue but also brought a host of practical benefits to the table.

A Sound Solution

The flyloft at Artscape, like many opera houses, is designed for functionality rather than acoustics. Its vast, open design allows sound to dissipate upward rather than outward, which is less than ideal for an orchestra aiming to captivate an audience. The team needed a material that could reflect sound effectively while being easy to handle and safe to install in such a large space. Xanita board ticked all the boxes.

Made from recycled cardboard fibers, Xanita board combines impressive sound-reflecting capabilities with a lightweight structure—75% lighter than MDF, yet stronger than honeycomb boards. This made it an ideal choice for constructing the massive panels of the acoustic shell. The panels could be maneuvered and installed with relative ease, reducing the physical strain on the crew and enhancing safety during setup. Most importantly, the shell transformed the listening experience, ensuring the orchestra’s music reached the audience with clarity and richness.

Sustainability Meets Practicality

Beyond its acoustic prowess, Xanita board brought an eco-friendly edge to the project. Manufactured from recycled materials, it’s VOC-free and 100% repulpable, aligning with a growing demand for sustainable solutions in the arts and beyond. For the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, this meant not only delivering a stellar performance but also doing so in a way that minimized environmental impact.

The lightweight nature of the board also meant the panels could be flat-packed and moved efficiently, a practical advantage for a temporary installation. This adaptability didn’t compromise the outcome—audience members enjoyed a concert experience where the music was front and center, unhindered by the venue’s architectural quirks.

A Win for Art and Innovation

The collaboration between Xanita and the Artscape project highlights how creative problem-solving can elevate both art and sustainability. What started as a logistical challenge turned into an opportunity to showcase the potential of innovative materials in real-world applications. The acoustic shell didn’t just solve a problem; it enhanced the performance, proving that the right tools can make a profound difference.

For those in the design, architecture, or event production worlds, this story serves as inspiration. Xanita board’s versatility—direct-printable, CNC-compatible, and customizable—opens doors to countless possibilities, from stage design to retail displays and beyond. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best solutions are the ones that harmonize practicality, performance, and planet-friendly principles.

As the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s summer series played on, the audience likely had no idea of the ingenuity behind the scenes. But for those in the know, the Artscape project stands as a testament to what’s possible when sustainability and creativity take the stage together.