As graduate level architecture students at Portland State University, Sarah Almuhanna and Nancy Barakat Adams acknowlege and appreciate the value of green building and sustainable materials. And to take it a step further, they have a desire to use architecture to improve the relationship between humans and nature, inviting nature to become part of the design process.
“We were really inspired by new, creative ways of production and how it can be designed in harmony with the built environment. And I think that inspired us to move forward (with the Cleantech Challenge), using mycelium as a building material,” Sarah says.
Their team, Fungivores, is using mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungi, to create biodegradable furniture. The reason for using mycelium is that it is a material that neutralizes toxins within the soil, helping to recycle and regenerate the soil.
“We’re going to start with a prototype of compostable benches. Our goal is to use mycelium as a sustainable replacement for public park benches made of petroleum-derived plastics and bio-based materials with carbon footprints,” notes Nancy. “The mycelium material is going to help address pollution by eliminating waste and remediating the soil.”
Given the right conditions, live mycelium can last up to several weeks before the bench structure will begin to naturally break down into organic materials. When the bench does break down, the materials will fertilize the surrounding soil without causing environmental harm. This allows it to be eternally existing as long as the lower layers are protected.
“I’m really intrigued about mycelium as a building material,” says Sarah. “I’m excited to have this opportunity to experiment with different strains of mushrooms to see how they can be developed into a product that can be really beneficial to the environment.”
Material thinking is a huge part of architectural design. Team Fungivores is introducing a process aimed at providing cost-effective solutions and sustainable changes to the way we build our spaces, and the materials we use. Using local land waste and introducing mycelium as a binder to feed the soil, instead of polluting it, makes mycelium a great renewable resource – and nature's valuable recycler.
“We both share an interest in how design and biology are integrated with architecture. We wanted to take the opportunity that Cleantech is providing to experiment with mycelium,” says Sarah.
“With this challenge we look forward to better understanding mycelium as a material. We are experimenting with how we can better develop cutting-edge technologies, and we hope to learn the skills we need to market the product,” adds Nancy.