Quick Life Cycle
The major role of fungi in nature is to act as a decomposer. They grow on dead organic matter, disassembling and recycling it back to the environment. In fact, mushrooms are only the flower of the bigger organism that is basically formed by mycelium. Mycelium is the vegetative tissue of the fungus, the medium through which it absorbs nutrients.
Sourcing (Where to find mycelium)
A relatively new building material, purely Mycelium farms haven’t yet reached commercial scale operations but there do exist cradle-to-cradle suppliers primarily close to London.
The Growing Pavillion
Chopped hemp as residual stream from agriculture (but you can use any natural fibers), mixed with spores of the reishi mushroom create sturdy, very light, fire-retardant, water-repellent, acoustic top sheets in just a few weeks. With the right natural coating, they can then be used as façade panels outside. And no, the mushroom no longer grows, it has stopped due to drying and can therefore no longer release spores.
While the growing circumstances have an impact on the material’s performance at both the technical and experiential levels, It can be found in abundance on the planet as it easily colonises soil and many other substrates, practically acting like a glue that binds together different natural particles.
by set designer and artist Pascal Leboucq in collaboration with Erik Klarenbeek's studio Krown Design at Amsterdam studio Biobased Creations