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Grown, Not Built: MycoMuseum Explores the Future of Architecture with Fungi

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6 June 2025

At the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the MycoMuseum project introduces a bold approach to sustainable design. Presented by Indian studio Anomalia in collaboration with Indonesian biotech company MYCL, the installation is part of the “Material Bank: Matters Make Sense” pavilion at the Arsenale. The exhibition is curated by Professor Ingrid Maria Paoletti and directed by Carlo Ratti, under the Biennale’s theme Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.

The project challenges designers to rethink architecture in the context of ecological limits. It highlights a future where buildings are grown, not built.

MycoBlox: A Material Innovation Rooted in Nature

Central to the installation are MycoBlox, which are 25 cm modular blocks grown from mushroom mycelium and agricultural waste. These biobased units are lightweight, durable, and fully biodegradable. Each block weighs just 1.6 kilograms yet supports a compressive load of 1.55 tonnes.

The environmental impact is significant. The project repurposed 142 kilograms of agro-waste, sequestered over 89 kilograms of carbon, and prevented 522 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent emissions. In addition, 470 litres of water were saved. This data underlines the project’s relevance for circular and low-impact design.

Design, Science and Circular Thinking

MycoMuseum is built on four key research themes. First, it explores biological intelligence by studying how mycelium grows and functions. This includes research on its behaviour, growth conditions, and bio-applications.

Second, the team examines the material’s structural potential. They test its compressive strength, insulation, fire resistance, and performance as a building element.

Third, the project focuses on modular design. The MycoBlox are optimised for visual openness, stability, and natural growth. Their modularity allows for flexible spatial configurations.

Lastly, the installation champions circularity. The blocks connect using wooden dowels, which allows full disassembly. This method avoids glue or chemical fixings. As a result, all materials can return to the earth—a principle aligned with the Biennale’s Circularity Manifesto.

From Pavilion to Everyday Application

The material is not limited to experimental architecture. Several MycoBlox have been adapted into modular furniture. These include benches and tables, showcasing the design’s versatility. The pieces are functional, compostable, and born from waste. They illustrate how biobased innovation can enter everyday life.

Local Beginnings, Global Vision

Anomalia began in a small kitchen in Mumbai. There, designers Bhakti V. Loonawat and Suyash Sawant experimented with fungi grown in cupcake trays. These humble beginnings led to a partnership with MYCL and eventually to the Biennale.

The team’s goal is to move away from extractive practices and toward regenerative systems. Their work invites architects, scientists, farmers, and policymakers into a shared conversation. Together, they imagine a future where materials support—not harm—natural ecosystems.

A Living Exhibit at La Biennale 2025

MycoMuseum will be on view at the Arsenale from 10 May to 23 November 2025. More than an exhibit, it serves as a living prototype for architecture that breathes, regenerates, and decomposes. It signals a shift from consumption to renewal—an approach that is urgently needed in design today.

Source: Anomalia & MYCL
Photos: Silvia Miralles Perez

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