Material: Structural fibers (e.g., wool) & fungal mycelium
Functions: Invites children to climb and provides habitat for animals and plants
Application: As biodegradable structures in public spaces, e.g., in parks
One of the speculation teams in the workshop developed the idea »Fungula«. They contributed their personal knowledge – as city dwellers and designers – to the speculation.
»Fungula« is a neologism made up of »fungus« and »pergola« (a term for an archway in a garden). The speculation team imagined that »Fungulae« would consist of fibers covered with fungal mycelium. In the future, »Fungulae« might be found in public parks. They could provide shade, a habitat for animals, and a place to climb. They could even be connected to the trees in the park. As they would be completely biodegradable, they would not last forever. After a while, the materials would disintegrate, and the »Fungula« would make way for something new. For the speculation team, this was one of the most beautiful aspects of the idea: the beauty of impermanence.
»We imagined a structure for parks. It has different functions. For example, it’s for kids to climb on – there’s a slide and a bridge covered with mycelium. It’s also an aesthetic element that promotes biodiversity and could provide a place for birds and insects to build their nests, and it might even be a space for insect hotels.«