MYCELIUM [Re_imagined]
Project: TeaHouse (untypical)
Designer/Artist: Phil Ross
Source: http://philross.org/
Featured material:
MYCELIUM [Re_imagined]myceliumblock – mycotecture
– Mycelium (plural mycelia) is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. The mass of hyphae is sometimes called shiro, especially within the fairy ring fungi. Fungal colonies composed of mycelia are found in soil and on or within many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates into a homokaryotic mycelium, which cannot reproduce sexually; when two compatible homokaryotic mycelia join and form a dikaryotic mycelium, that mycelium may form fruiting bodies such as mushroom –
Now, as organic building material?cultivating, drying, and developing mycelia has being one of Phil Ross’s passions, but considering them as a potential building material it’s just extraordinary. Inhabitat claims that it’s stronger than concrete (http://inhabitat.com/phillip-ross-molds-fast-growing-fungi-into-mushroom-building-bricks-that-are-stronger-than-concrete/). Shown as part of a series of experiments named “Mycotecture”, Ross created cultures formed into bricks and stacked them into a arch vault. The mushroomblocks are extremely light and resistant to mold, water, and fire, amazing! Mycelia is what Ross cultivates and dries into forms that are incredibly lightweight and surprisingly resistant to fire, mold and water. With a patent waiting for approval, Ross hopes to use this approach in the future as a building material with great implications in green building technology.
Synthesized features:
– Properties:
· light, durable, flexible,
· resistant to mold, water, and fire
– Applications:
· Architecture/Art_Exterior/Interior
(Pictures by Philip Ross)
Material Strategies 