French artist Côme Di Meglio, along with a team of friends and fellow artists, designed a dome made of mycelium.

Called MycoTemple, the dome is designed as a space for physical and spiritual transformation. The dome is five meters wide and entirely grown from mycelium, the root system of mushrooms. The mycelium is grown on industrial waste, mostly sawdust and other wood-based waste.

The mycelium building blocks of the dome have been left as they grew. In some places, they have a velvety touch, in others there are mushrooms sprouting.

The dome is made to disintegrate; as the mycelium gradually biodegrades, it unveils a concealed wooden structure that is entirely hand-carved.

Photos: Gian-Battista Lombardo

Sigrid Lussenburg