Tag Archives: mycelium

Why is Mycelium Nature’s Sustainable Hero in Building Materials?

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Mycelium, an intricate mesh of fungal filamentous cells known as hyphae, is formed by fungi across a broad spectrum of organic substrates. Mycelium, known for durability and eco-friendliness, is ideal for creating daily-use products, offering resilience and sustainability for designers aiming to craft durable, environmentally responsible items with minimal ecological impact.

Designer: Interesting Times Gang and OBOS

What are the advantages of using Mycelium?

Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, is gaining attention in product design for several reasons:

• Sustainable Material

Mycelium is an eco-friendly material and an alternative to plastic or foam. It’s important to note that mycelium-based products are renewable, biodegradable, and can be combined with agricultural waste products to create composite materials.

Designer: FirstBuild

Mella is an automated chamber designed for effortless cultivation of various crops at home. Utilizing smart technology, Mella regulates environmental conditions to ensure optimal growth and harvest. With features like a refillable water basin, LED lights, and WiFi compatibility, Mella simplifies the cultivation process for all types of crops, making home gardening convenient and accessible.

• Flexible

Mycelium is a flexible material that can be grown and molded into various shapes and forms. It can be used to create numerous products, ranging from furniture to packaging.

Designers: Diego Mata and NOS Design

The Grow It Yourself Helmet is a sustainable DIY helmet crafted from mushrooms that actually grows on its own! Created by NOS Design, this innovative helmet is made from mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi. It’s 100% compostable, breathable, and impact-resistant, reducing the need for plastics. Partnering with Polybion, the helmet utilizes Fungicel, a mycelium-based material that provides cushioning upon impact. This biodegradable, low-cost alternative promotes sustainability and engages users in a meaningful DIY activity, offering a practical and eco-friendly solution.

• Highly Durable

Mycelium products are strong and durable, their strength and durability depend on their conditions of growth and processing techniques.

• Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

Mycelium has excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties and finds its application in the construction and packaging industry, where insulation is essential.

Designer: Mogu

The Foresta System by Mogu is a groundbreaking collection of sustainable modular acoustic panels. Crafted from a unique blend of mycelium and upcycled textile materials, these panels offer organic yet durable noise-reduction solutions for spaces like offices and restaurants. Recognized for its eco-conscious design, Foresta integrates mycelium into its build. With a 100% circular design ethos and advanced wood processing technologies, Foresta combines elegance with innovation, setting a new standard in acoustic panel design.

Designer: Jonas Edvard

Jonas Edvard’s Myx Sail / Floor is a groundbreaking sound-absorbing panel, merging mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow in a 1m x 1m design. Collaborating with nature, he explores mycelium’s flexibility and rigidity within a modular mold, envisioning its seamless integration into living spaces. With a focus on sound absorption, Edvard’s research highlights the viability of mycelium in reducing environmental impact while inspiring a harmonious relationship between design and nature.

• Biodegradable

Mycelium is a biodegradable material that breaks down naturally at the end of its lifecycle thus reducing its environmental pollution.

• Low Carbon Footprint

Growing mycelium demands fewer resources, it does not release a lot of greenhouse gases which makes it better for the environment.

• Material and Product Innovation

Another advantage is that mycelium can be combined with other natural materials like hemp or straw to create stronger composite materials with enhanced properties.

Designer: Emilie Burfeind

Sneature is a biodegradable shoe crafted with waste materials and 3D knitting technology. Designed by Burfeind, this sustainable sneaker offers an eco-conscious alternative to traditional footwear. Featuring a protein-based 3D knit membrane made from dog hair and a mushroom mycelium sole composed of local vegetable waste, Sneature prioritizes sustainability and customization. With water-repellent properties and a second-skin feel, Sneature combines style with environmental responsibility.

Designer: Stephanie Singer

MYC is a sustainable disposable grill made from mycelium and was created by industrial design student Stephanie Singer, MYC offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional aluminum grills. After use, MYC can be left to biodegrade and enrich the soil. With a grate made of bamboo sticks and dried corn cobs as fuel, MYC promotes sustainability without compromising convenience.

• Organic Aesthetic

Mycelium-based materials can offer a unique, organic aesthetic with a natural look, making them attractive to product designers.

Designer: Sebastian Cox with Ninela Ivanova

Sebastian Cox’s Mycelium pendant lamps redefine production by growing rather than being manufactured. Partnering with researcher Ninela Ivanova, Cox utilizes mycelium, the vegetative part of mushrooms, and scrap willow wood to create these uniquely rustic lamps. Each lamp takes 4-12 weeks to grow and is entirely compostable, showcasing the fusion of natural elements in sustainable design.

What are the disadvantages of using Mycelium?

Although mycelium is a sustainable material, it faces some challenges

• No Standardization

As mycelium is a natural product, its growth is influenced by temperature and humidity, making it difficult to achieve a standardized and consistent product. Note that mycelium growth takes longer and is not suitable for mass production or time-sensitive projects.

Designers: Myceen

‘B-Wise’ by Myceen is a sustainable lampshade crafted entirely from mycelium. This innovative design grows into its unique shape in just 5 weeks, using organic waste materials. With a rugged appearance reminiscent of leather, mycelium offers eco-friendly properties and versatile applications, even extending to architecture and space exploration.

• Moisture Sensitivity

Mycelium-based materials are susceptible to moisture, which can impact their structural strength and lifespan, potentially leading to product degradation if not stored correctly.

• Limited Applications

Mycelium-based products have limited applications and may not be suitable for items exposed to high temperatures or humidity. Furthermore, mycelium is yet to gain widespread market acceptance.

Designer: RMIT University

Fungi could become a game-changer in fireproofing homes. Researchers at a Melbourne university have developed fire-retardant mycelium sheets that offer insulation and can be applied over flammable surfaces. These bioengineered sheets, derived from fungi, are both sustainable and environmentally friendly, emitting natural water and carbon dioxide. The aim is to enhance fire safety in buildings while minimizing environmental impact.

• Costly Material

The costs associated with research and development contribute to the expense of producing mycelium-based products, making them economically unfeasible for certain applications.

Why is Mycelium becoming a popular construction material?

Mycelium-based building materials are crafted via myco-composite manufacturing which blends mycelium with agricultural waste such as straw, sawdust, or hemp. This mixture is poured into molds and left to settle for several days. During this time, the mycelium digests the agricultural waste, bonding with it to create a sturdy, cohesive material. Once fully grown and solidified, the material is removed from the molds, and ready for construction use.

Although this eco-friendly solution is still under study for its strength and durability compared to conventional options like bricks, mycelium finds applications in insulation, soundproofing, and lightweight construction blocks.

Designer: The Living

“Alive” is a groundbreaking architectural prototype by The Living. This innovative structure utilizes probiotic materials, showcasing the future of sustainable architecture. Crafted from mycelium, the vegetative part of mushrooms, it offers a glimpse into a new era of eco-friendly design. Its organic, porous construction provides a habitat for various microbes while facilitating interaction between humans and microorganisms. Made from renewable luffa fibers, this prototype embodies sustainability and adaptability. “Alive” is not just a concept for the future – it’s a practical solution for creating healthier, more environmentally friendly spaces today.

Designer: Pierre Oskam and Max Latour

Urban Reef is a 3D-printed mycelium-based structure designed to enhance biodiversity in cities. Developed by a Netherlands-based company, this innovative project aims to stimulate water circularity and support diverse ecosystems within urban environments. Utilizing porous materials like ceramics and mycelium composites, Urban Reef creates an ideal habitat for fungi and vegetation to thrive, promoting sustainable urban ecosystems without human intervention.

The post Why is Mycelium Nature’s Sustainable Hero in Building Materials? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Concrete-like lampshades are actually made from mushroom mycelium

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We’ve come across a wide variety of lamp designs with an even wider assortment of lampshades made from different materials using different methods. Of course, the most common are made of metal, plastic, or glass, as these are easy to come by and manufacture in this day and age. They’re not exactly sustainable in the long run, though, even if some are considered to be such. They might not be easily renewable or they take a lot of energy to produce, generating carbon emissions and waste in the process. This particular lighting collection, however, really takes eco-friendliness to heart by using a material that’s not only sustainable, biodegradable, and renewable, it can also be easily grown in a lab rather than manufactured in a factory.

Designer: Danielle Trofe, Lujah Brown (MushLume)

Mycelium is becoming quite a star in the design industry despite its modest and literally down-to-earth roots. They are practically mushroom roots consisting of a complex branching network that, in the natural world, are used to distribute water and nutrients to plants while themselves also serving as food for organisms living in the same soil. Recently, mycelium has become the focus of many research and design experiments that use it as an alternative to typical materials like fabric or even concrete.

MushLume, and obvious wordplay on its origins, harnesses the properties of mycelium to create lamp designs that are not only striking but also friendly to both the Earth and humans as well. But rather than take the painstaking work of gathering mushroom roots from the wild, the fungi are instead grown into a hemp substrate that eventually solidifies inside a mold. Once matured, the new structure is removed from the mold heated, and dried to become practically any lamp form you can think of.

The result is a material that checks all the sustainability boxes. It uses very little water and energy to make, significantly reducing carbon emissions and waste. The material is also biodegradable, which means you can eventually throw it out into a backyard compost or landfill and it will safely decompose over time. That said, they are expected to last for years so you won’t need to do that any time soon.

MushLume lamps also bring a distinctive aesthetic to any space. Their raw and rough surfaces almost resemble concrete from a distance but are incredibly lightweight in reality. The texture and patterns, which are unique to every lamp, also add some character to the design, while also giving the diffused light a warm tone. MushLume definitely challenges the conventions of designing and producing products, though there still needs to be more testing to see if mycelium can really scale up to be the mass-grown foundations of future products.

The post Concrete-like lampshades are actually made from mushroom mycelium first appeared on Yanko Design.

Introducing An Acoustical Material That Can Be Used Even For Outdoor Events

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In the dynamic world of sustainable design, Jonas Edvard stands out with his innovative approach to integrating organic materials into functional and aesthetically pleasing objects. His latest creation, the Myx Sail / Floor, unveiled at the Mindcraft Project 2023, is a sound-absorbing panel that showcases the remarkable properties of mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow. This 1m x 1m panel not only exemplifies the structural possibilities of composite biomaterials but also represents Edvard’s commitment to responsible design practices.

Designer: Jonas Edvard

The Myx Sail / Floor project is a testament to Jonas Edvard’s dedication to exploring the symbiotic relationship between design choices and their impact on nature. Collaborating with a living material – mushroom mycelium – throughout the design and production process, Edvard creates a flexible room divider within a pre-designed mold. As the mycelium gradually grows and bonds with a plant fiber mixture, the panel takes shape, marrying flexibility with rigidity.

The designer draws inspiration from the natural role of mushrooms as recycling agents, breaking down plant matter into soil. His design philosophy revolves around a deep respect for nature, evident in his exploration of the intricate relationship between raw materials and human life. The Myx Sail / Floor prototype serves as a modular design that aims to emphasize how organic materials like mycelium can seamlessly integrate into our living and working spaces.

Jonas Edvard’s broader research study, conducted in collaboration with Arup Engineers in Germany, delves into the sound-absorbing qualities of mycelium. The panels are meticulously designed to absorb frequencies between 200 and 2500 Hz – the standard range of human conversation and interaction (same as glass wool). Edvard envisions the potential for natural, organic materials to become integral components of our buildings and interior architecture, contributing to a more sustainable life cycle.

The design philosophy revolves around responsible design choices and their impact on nature. His open-minded approach to design leads to experiments that yield new materials and objects from local or organic sources, often embracing a circular and sustainable ethos. In his testing phase, Edvard explores various material combinations to understand the design, appearance, and functionality of mycelium-based sound-absorbing material.

The Myx Sail / Floor sound-absorbing panel invites people to touch and feel the natural qualities of mushroom mycelium, hemp, and willow. Edvard aims to create an immersive experience, allowing individuals to sense the porous, lightweight, and stiff characteristics of the materials. By reshaping these materials into functional forms, he hopes to spark conversations about the value and aesthetics of natural origins, encouraging a new understanding of how these materials can be incorporated into our homes and living areas. Now the acoustic installation won’t just be on the walls and ceilings conventionally, but the floors too!

The Myx Sail / Floor is more than just a sound-absorbing panel – it is a tangible embodiment of sustainable design principles and a testament to the possibilities that arise when designers collaborate with nature. As Edvard continues to push the boundaries of material innovation, his work inspires the integration of organic, natural materials into our built environment, fostering a harmonious relationship between design and the natural world.

The post Introducing An Acoustical Material That Can Be Used Even For Outdoor Events first appeared on Yanko Design.