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Mycoisolat
Project details
Programme
Theme
Growing Materials
The intersection of bio-materials with existing architecture could become the driver of the transition from static to organic building. This intersection between fields also accentuates the importance of research being conducted as well as our adaptation to these new environments.
Mycoisolat targets the manipulation of light in architecture through mycelium along with the creation of freeform spaces with the use of rope-based scaffolds. The project reconsidered conventional brick forms and moulding methods, common for mycelium design, and led to the organism-driven fibre-based approach. While existing design strategies try to eliminate darkness using light, Mycoisolat introduces bioluminescent mycelium as a subtle way to highlight darkness and explore the dynamic density of the material and overall structure.
Challenging human perceptions in order to alter social and spatial cognition, this approach allows for the exploration of relationships between laboratory-based material studies, design, and wellbeing.
Group Students
- Alexandros Angelidis Year 1
- Ekaterina Beliaeva Year 1
01
Biological and Material Explorations
Material Explorations
A collection of material study samples from different stages of research. Tests with various strains, substrates, and techniques led to the idea of rope-based mycelium composites.
Mycelial Bioluminescence
Documentation of bioluminescent Panellus stipticus mycelium on hardwood substrate as a sample from bioluminescence studies.
Proof of Concept: Fibre Colonisation
Proof of Concept: Fibre Colonisation
Promising test results with different substrates, conditions, and strains of offer possible solutions to growth and contamination issues that are crucial for scaling up.
Proof of Concept: Space Formation
Various inoculation and incubation methods were tested and adapted, exploring the advantages and obstacles of each approach while avoiding traditional mould-driven techniques.
Extended Growth
Hyphal bridging provides a gradient of density and spatial arrangements. Collected data from the studies allows for democratisation of research, fabrication, and future scaling up.
02
Design Explorations
Design Development Sketch
Rope-based structures, colonised with mycelium, are envisioned as a public space installation in the first stages of the design development.
Design Details
A visualisation of the dynamic light density and spatial arrangements within the mycelium-based structures, inspired by hyphal behaviour in a dystopian setting.
Houdini render example
A visualisation of initial intersections of bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent mycelium structures within the built environment. The structures’ density will increase with the growth of mycelium over time.
Mycelial Density and Light Permeability Simulations
Scaffold arrangements and mycelium colonisation patterns are developed as drivers of bio-centred computational design research.
Rope-Based Mycelium Structure
Avoiding a brick-like moulding approach, the proposal uses rope-based structures to allow for a range of application opportunities. In these structures, the dynamic density of living mycelium is directed, but not restricted.
The Bartlett
B-Pro & Autumn Shows 2020
27 November – 11 December 2020
B-Pro & Autumn Shows 2020
Explore