Designed by Yong Ju Lee Architecture with the Robotic Fabrication Studio (RFS) at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), the Mycelial Hut explores how buildings can be grown instead of built. The experimental pavilion uses mycelium, the root network of fungi, as a biodegradable and regenerative material formed through robotic 3D printing and biological growth.

Cultivated Architecture

The Mycelial Hut responds to the high carbon footprint of the construction industry. For decades, concrete and steel have defined modern architecture. However, these materials are energy-intensive and hard to recycle. In contrast, mycelium binds organic matter naturally and grows with minimal energy. The project tests how such organism-based composites can support more circular and sustainable design.

Robotic Fabrication Meets Nature

The pavilion combines a timber frame for structure with custom-grown mycelium panels forming its outer skin. Each panel was grown inside a 3D printed mould shaped by industrial robotic arms. The team tested several mycelium mixtures to compare their growth rate, density, and strength. The final composition produced lightweight panels that could be shaped precisely and joined to the frame.

Towards Circular Construction

Installed in the landscape of SeoulTech’s campus, the Mycelial Hut illustrates how digital tools and biological processes can work together. It proposes a future in which buildings may be grown, used, and composted rather than manufactured and discarded. The project shows how material can become part of a living cycle, aligning design with natural systems.

The Mycelial Hut offers a model for architects and designers interested in biobased materials, robotic fabrication, and low-carbon construction.

Source: Yong Ju Lee Architecture / Designboom
Photos: Yong Ju Lee Architecture