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A Brunel University London student has been exploring how mushrooms can be used to grow robust zero-waste structures as an alternative to conventional building techniques.
In collaboration with environmentally-focused architecture firm Astudio, Aleksi Vesaluoma's Grown Structures, use mycelium (oyster mushroom spawn) mixed with cardboard. The material is then molded into 'mushroom sausages' by packing the mixture into a tubular cotton bandage.
The mushroom sausages are shaped over a mold of the preferred shape and grown over four weeks in a ventilated green house, resulting in a striking structure with potential use at festivals or other events that could be easily biodegraded afterward.
The large quantities of gourmet mushrooms which pop out from the structure can also be picked and eaten, creating a novel architectural surrounding which doubles as a food source. A pop-up restaurant grown from mushrooms, serving mushroom meals, is just one potential idea for the project's future, say the creators.
While a number of designers, artists and companies are also working with mycelium in a range of different ways, Aleksi's artistic and versatile new 'sausage' technique is new to the field and a launch-pad for further developments – enhancing the structure's strength, reshaping into different designs, or building on a smaller scale, for example.
Zero waste, carbon neutral buildings can also be built with clay, stone, or wood, but probably don't taste as good.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday June 21 2017, @03:42AM (1 child)
Well, I guess it holds true... for some values of "grow".
If the mushrooms would be able to grow in any conditions, with only cardboard (i.e. cellulose) needed... then I guess the humans could never use cardboard.
Fortunately, mushrooms do need some extra condition: humidity, temperature, some need light to get to fruiting stage
(has anyone seen a fruiting mushroom in Sahara [google.com]? No? They do exist [wikipedia.org], though.)
Also, as a festival organizer, would you bear the liability for allergy/asthma attacks cause by mushroom spores [nih.gov]?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MostCynical on Wednesday June 21 2017, @05:14AM
I think the mushrooms are meant to be 'not growing', when used for building... http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ae/6b/c8/ae6bc86d1a1c664b782bc42a30b6d14a.jpg [pinimg.com]
else you come home after a holiday and find you have a new room or two, possibly not where you want them (over your driveway, on your neighbour's house...)
or you use it as an excuse for your house getting much, much bigger..
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2007/03/the-house-that-ate-weston/ [bostonmagazine.com]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex