Exploring Mycelium Materials for Architecture and Design

Mycelium materials are finding applications in packaging, product design and architectural research. A book edited by architect and design researcher Dilan Ozkan examines how designers can cultivate, shape and integrate these fungal materials into the built environment.

Published by Pelagic Publishing, Mycology for Architecture: Methods and Applications of Mycelium Materials in the Built Environment brings together 28 contributors from 12 countries. It connects material research, fabrication methods and design education, while examining the opportunities and constraints of building with fungi.

From Fungal Networks to Building Components

Mycelium is the network of thread-like structures that forms the vegetative body of a fungus. Designers and researchers are exploring its use in biobased materials for insulation, acoustic elements, building skins and lightweight structures.

The book considers mycelium as a potential alternative to conventional construction materials, including some plastics and foams. Its opening section covers building components, bricks, stressed-skin structures and façade applications. It also explores more speculative possibilities, such as habitats for space exploration.

Alongside these applications, the publication examines mechanical performance, scalability and environmental impact. This places questions of practical viability alongside experimental design, helping readers assess where mycelium materials could contribute to architectural projects.

Working With Living Systems

The second section focuses on methods for working with fungi, including laboratory protocols, workshops and approaches to teaching biodesign. It introduces “myco-lab” spaces that connect education, research and industry.

Working with living organisms requires designers to account for biological growth and processes that do not always follow predictable, linear steps. The book explores ways to incorporate this variability into design practice, treating fungi as an active participant in material development.

Contributors bring perspectives from architecture, engineering, science, technology and education. According to the publisher, none are trained mycologists; each has integrated fungi into their own discipline through material experimentation, fabrication or teaching.

Digital Fabrication and Hybrid Materials

The final section examines fabrication strategies intended to extend mycelium applications beyond small prototypes. Topics include CNC biofabrication, robotics, additive manufacturing and textile templating.

Hybrid approaches also feature, including research combining mycelial skins with upcycled fired clay. These investigations connect biological growth with digital production and existing material resources, opening further directions for circular design.

Assessing Environmental Potential

The publication presents mycelium as a renewable material with potential for biodegradable and lower-carbon alternatives. It also addresses environmental assessment and production constraints, providing context for evaluating these possibilities.

For architects, interior designers, product designers and material researchers, the book offers a reference for understanding both fabrication processes and emerging applications. Its combination of theory, practical methods and performance analysis supports a more informed approach to specifying and developing fungal materials.

Source: Pelagic Publishing / Mycology fo Architecture
Photos: MYX Sail by Jonas Edvard