Myco-Hills: An Experimental Research on Mycelium-Based Building Blocks

In a rapidly developing world, pollution caused by the overconsumption of non-recyclable materials in design and architecture has led designers to find sustainable solutions like biodegradable materials. Mycelium is a significant example of it. In this paper, the research conducted as a part of Basic Design Studio Istanbul Bilgi University on the producing mycelium-based building blocks through the process of cultivating mycelium in different materials and ratios to assess the possible mixture to use in self-standing interlocking wall assemblies. In this research. After analyzing the possible factors which affect this process by comparing the mycelium mixtures, the design and production of molds for interlocking building blocks are explained. Due to the lack of time for growing mycelium for every mold, the properties of other materials are analyzed as an alternative to the mycelium-based biocomposites. As a result, the final design which functions as a sitting unit and flowerpot is realized in the 1:1 scale by using stone powder to test the physical application of the proposed design as a self-standing structure. The paper presents actual applications of mycelium-based biocomposites from the perspective of various design principles. Then, the process steps for mycelium mixture is explained as the inoculation, cultivation, and drying heating. The packages that are prepared as different mixtures are explained and compared to select the working one. The potentials of mycelium in the future are discussed as final remarks.