Over the last few decades sustainability has been at the heart of design in architecture. Architects, Designers and engineers are continuously looking for and researching alternate materials. Materials which are not only environmentally friendly but also prove to be cost-effective. One such material is mycelium, which is the fungal root structure. Mycelium is an environmentally sustainable, biodegradable material that can potentially change the face of architecture and construction.
What is Mycelium?
Mycelium refers to a network of lengthy thread-like mushroom roots, which normally grow in a moist and shaded area. The roots form the foundation of the mushroom and are used to absorb nutrients from the soil. The properties of the roots extend beyond its traditional role in nature. Engineers and scientists have, in recent years, discovered the mycelium’s use in architecture and construction. If grown in a particular way and cultivated in a controlled environment, mycelium can be used to create an eco-friendly, lightweight substitute building material.
Mycelium in Architecture and Construction
Mycelium as a building material is being studied for the first time due to its versatility. It is not only an eco-friendly biodegradable material but also possesses the properties of being non-toxic and fireproof. Mycelium is grown in molds, in which it will automatically stick to organic substrates like sawdust, hemp, or straw. When a period of growth elapses, the material dries out and gets hard, making a light yet resilient composite which can be used in the construction process. Mycelium is a green material compared to typical materials like steel and concrete.
Properties of Mycelium
Promotes Sustainable Construction: Mycelium is a carbon-negative material, and that means it absorbs more CO2 when growing compared to what it emits in its manufacturing process. Thus, reducing the carbon footprint of building.
Lightweight and Strong: When combined with other materials like hemp and flax, Mycelium can be harder than concrete. Thus, emerging as a great substitute material.
Flexibility: Since Mycelium is grown in molds, it gives the architects the freedom to create special shapes and sizes. It would give a lot of design flexibility. Bricks and panels are the most popular products that are produced using mycelium. They are lightweight and used in experimental architectural projects.
Insulation: Mycelium works well to retain temperature and is also fire-resistant. Thus, it is a great alternative to synthetic insulation materials.
These early prototypes show how the future of mycelium in architecture is no longer fictional but is gradually becoming part of the design and construction scene. With the continuing development of material science and mycology, we can surely expect more buildings made of mycelium, from green homes to revolutionary urban structures.
The Future of Mycelium in Construction
While mycelium has a very bright future ahead, there are certain challenges that we need to overcome before it can be widely used as a building material. Scalability and large-scale production of mycelium in one such significant roadblock. While it is easy to grow mycelium, bulk production for commercial use for large scale projects becomes difficult. It would not only require large-scale investment but also a huge amount of technological development.
A few experimental projects have already demonstrated the potential of mycelium in construction. The Hy-Fi Tower in New York City was a temporary installation made of mycelium bricks. The project demonstrated the feasibility of mycelium as a structural material and highlighted its potential for creating sustainable, innovative designs.
The potential of mycelium in the construction industry is vast. With ongoing development and research work for the finding of other substances in construction, mycelium is turning into a probable replacement. In a couple of years, we can have mycelium as an omnipresent element in green architecture and construction that offers a greener solution in minimizing the effect of a building on nature.
