The Vision of Paul Stamets: According to world-renowned expert Paul Stamets (Fungi Perfecti), mushroom cultivation is a “significant tool for restoring, replenishing, and remedying Earth’s overburdened ecosphere.” Mycelium—the fibrous root structure of fungi—is viewed not just as a material, but as a healing agent for ecosystems, addressing resource depletion and toxic environmental release.
Key Case Studies in Mycelium Architecture
- The Circular Garden (Milan Design Week 2019): Designed by Carlo Ratti Associati, this installation featured arches grown from mycelium bars totaling 1km in length. As a temporary, compostable structure, it returned to the soil at the end of the event, drastically reducing the typical waste generated by architectural exhibitions.
- Hy-Fi Tower (MoMA PS1, 2014): Architect David Benjamin (The Living) created a grand tower made of bio-bricks produced by Ecovative.
- Composition: A mix of mycelium, corn stalks, and hemp.
- Process: Cast in rectangular molds and grown for 5 days until the filaments bound the organic waste into a solid brick.
- Lifecycle: The structure was 100% biodegradable, with carbon emissions and energy consumption during production tending toward zero.
