Material: Structural fibers (e.g., willow) & fungal mycelium
Functions: Providing shade & a quiet retreat from city life
Application: As elements in public spaces – adapted to local conditions as walls, tubes, tents, or domes
This speculation team also developed a new idea for how fungal mycelium could be used in the future. They drew on their personal experiences, for instance, as a student, European, and art historian.
Their speculative mycelium structures might populate public spaces in the future. They would provide shade and opportunities to rest. The structures would be made of a form-giving material (e.g., willow) and covered with mycelium. Their flexible construction would enable them to be easily adapted to the location. Depending on the site, they could function as mycelium walls, tubes, tents, or domes. Thanks to mycelium’s sound-absorbing qualities, they would create small oases of quiet in the city.
»We discussed a bit and said, OK, we have a lot of space in the city, and we wanted to provide some space for relaxation where it is a bit quiet as well. The idea was to use a structure to create the form and then have mycelium around it because it feels very soft, leathery, and comfortable, and also absorbs noise. And since the material is mycelium, you could use it for a while and then compost it.«