Built of mycelium

MycoTree in Süddeutsche Zeitung

MycoTree is a load-bearing structure made of fungal mycelium and bamboo, developed by scientists of the Department of Sustainable Construction at the Faculty of Architecture at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in cooperation with the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich.
Süddeutsche Zeitung provides a further insight in how the range of materials could be supplemented by renewable and recyclable materials in the future.

Components made from mycelia cultivated in Dirk Hebel's laboratory at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. © Carlina Teteris.

Mushroom on a building site: What sounds like a problem case for homeowners is the future for some pioneers. Scientists from various disciplines think of fungi not as mould, but as mycelium. This fast-growing, fine network of thread-like cells is the root system of fungi. Depending on the processing method used, this renewable raw material can be used to produce both insulation and building materials, from static load-bearing elements to furniture. “In the near future, we will be able to build private homes entirely from mycelium,” says Dirk E. Hebel, head of the Sustainable Construction Department at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. “This alternative will not completely replace concrete, but it can significantly reduce its use.”

Lars Klaaßen in Süddeutsche Zeitung

Full article here.