Deep Forest: A Living Exploration of Biodesign and Circularity

The architecture and design innovation firm ecoLogicStudio, founded by Professor Claudia Pasquero and Dr. Marco Poletto, in collaboration with Innsbruck University, presents “Deep Forest” at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark. Part of the exhibition “Living Structures”, Deep Forest explores the naturalisation of architecture and technology, envisioning an era where nature’s mechanisms and digital processes merge seamlessly.

Running from 8 November 2024 to 23 March 2025, the installation celebrates sustainable biodesign, bringing forward innovations particularly relevant to architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. Deep Forest is a tangible demonstration of how architecture can learn from and incorporate biological systems, emphasising material circularity, biobased technologies, and environmentally integrative solutions.

Harnessing the Power of Nature and Technology
Deep Forest draws inspiration from the ecosystem of the forest, a complex network of interactions where biological and digital processes intertwine. One of the central materials in the installation is mycelium, the foundational organism of the “Wood Wide Web,” often described as the forest’s natural communication network. Mycelium is used extensively throughout the installation, serving as both a physical and conceptual guide for the spatial organisation and construction.

The Deep Forest installation demonstrates mycelium’s potential as a living architectural material, shaping bio-degradable columns, guiding visitor paths, and structuring an aeration system that supports the growth of photosynthetic organisms. This approach highlights mycelium’s versatility in biodesign, offering a renewable, biodegradable, and dynamic alternative to conventional building materials.

Another essential component of Deep Forest is the integration of photosynthetic microalgae. These microalgae, housed within 44 glass vessels, are responsible for capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, effectively acting as a living air purification system for the exhibition space. The combination of mycelium and microalgae forms a symbiotic relationship that sustains the ecosystem, demonstrating the potential of using biological processes to create regenerative and carbon-sequestering architectural forms.

3D Printing with Algae Biopolymers
The Deep Forest installation also showcases advancements in 3D printing technology using algae-infused biopolymers. ecoLogicStudio collaborated with the Synthetic Landscape Lab at Innsbruck University to develop 20 “biodegraders” made from a mixture of algae biopolymer and 300 kg of spent coffee grounds. These structures are inoculated with mycelium colonies that feed on the organic material, resulting in a robust synthetic trunk that mimics natural growth processes.

This innovative bio-fabrication process involves burying the 3D printed trunks in the ground, allowing the mycelium to grow and solidify into functional forms. These trunks can later be extracted, dried, and utilised for architectural purposes, offering both mechanical strength and an organic aesthetic. Occasionally, some sections are kept wet to encourage the growth of mushrooms, adding a unique visual and biological element to the design.

A Vision for Sustainable Architecture
Deep Forest embodies ecoLogicStudio’s vision of transforming waste and pollution into architectural beauty. The installation’s focus on photosynthesis, biobased materials, and regenerative processes represents a clear commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the climate crisis through innovative design solutions.

By integrating living systems such as mycelium and algae into architectural practice, ecoLogicStudio is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design. Their work encourages architects, interior designers, and landscape architects to rethink conventional materials and construction methods in favour of more resilient, adaptive, and regenerative approaches. The exhibition’s immersive and experiential nature helps convey these principles in a tangible way, inviting visitors to reimagine how buildings and natural systems can coexist.

Deep Forest is on display at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art until 23 March 2025. It represents a compelling example of how biodesign can contribute to a more sustainable future, transforming not only the way we build but also how we relate to the natural environment.

Source: ecoLogicStudio
Photos: Rasmus Hjortshøj