Monday, August 23, 2021

Mushroom Magic

For thousands of years, we’ve been building with wood and stone. But could we soon be using mushrooms to construct buildings?

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It might sound crazy, but a number of companies are experimenting with creating building materials—and eventually whole building structures—out of mycelium, which are the roots of a mushroom. If you’ve ever taken a walk in the woods and moved a rotting piece of wood, you’ve seen mycelium—white fibres stretching through the rotting material.

So how does it work? A form is created (sometimes woven) and filled with biodegradable material such as hemp or sawdust that is mixed with mycelium. The mycelium quickly grow (often in just a few days) to fill the shape as they consume the nutrients in the material. The growth is usually then halted and sealed, though some groups are experimenting with keeping the mycelium alive longer to grow actual buildings, not just building materials like bricks and slabs.

Mycelium is eco-friendly—it actually captures CO2 as it’s formed, unlike concrete, whose production accounts for eight percent of the CO2 that humans create each year. It also has good insulating and fire-retardant properties and doesn’t emit toxic chemicals in the case of a fire.

There is a lot more work to be done in learning more about how to harness this material. Some challenges include ensuring it stays moisture and mould-free. But if this material could be produced on a large-scale, we may soon see a shift in the way we think about creating construction materials.

To learn more, visit https://wasterush.info/mycelium-in-construction-3/ or watch this short video on the Growing Pavilion.

Sources: cbc.ca, constructionlinks.ca, wasterush.info

Mushroom Magic

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