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Strategies for Growing Large-Scale Mycelium Structures

Summary

This research explores using mushroom-based materials to create large building components as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional construction materials. The scientists developed methods to grow wall structures using living fungal materials that can be composted at the end of their life, rather than ending up in landfills. Impacts on everyday life: • Offers a sustainable alternative to foam insulation and other petroleum-based building materials • Could help reduce construction waste and environmental impact of buildings • Demonstrates new possibilities for temporary structures that can be fully composted • Provides a model for local material production that reduces transportation costs • Opens opportunities for more sustainable and circular building practices

Background

Within Euro-centric traditions of architecture, building significance is often tied to permanence. However, global building lifespans are rapidly decreasing, with averages of 34 years in China and 25 years for residential buildings in Japan. Buildings are being demolished prematurely while using energy-intensive materials that are expensive or impractical to recycle. In 2018, the US EPA reported 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste. While some structural materials can be recycled, they often interface with non-recyclable foams, plastics and resins.

Objective

This research aimed to develop and test assembly strategies for growing large building units and assembling them into efficiently formed wall prototypes using mycelium-based materials. A major focus was designing re-usable formwork systems to reduce waste in the fabrication process. The study demonstrated two different approaches through prototype structures: La Parete Fungina using myco-welded slabs, and L’Orso Fungino using in-situ monolithic fabric forming.

Results

La Parete Fungina successfully demonstrated two undulating wall units made from 17 myco-welded slabs each. The structure showed resilience to outdoor conditions including wind and snow. L’Orso Fungino proved the viability of fabric-forming large monolithic units that could be stacked and post-tensioned. Both techniques achieved complex geometries while minimizing formwork waste. The prototypes demonstrated the ability to grow large architectural components outside of controlled lab environments with reduced risk compared to fully monolithic structures.

Conclusion

The research showed that mycelium-based materials have potential for creating large-scale architectural components, particularly for applications like insulation, acoustical elements, and temporary structures. The lightweight properties allowed for prefabrication and assembly of complex forms. While load-bearing applications require further research, the techniques developed help advance myco-fabrication toward building-scale implementation. Key challenges remain around material supply chains, transportation logistics, and scaling up production infrastructure.
  • Published in:Biomimetics,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/biomimetics7030129
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