How Architects Are Growing the Next Generation of Buildings With Fungi

For over a century, the architecture and design industries have operated on a fundamentally extractive model: mine, refine, build, and eventually demolish. But a radical shift is taking root in the design world, moving the built environment away from the resource-heavy Anthropocene and toward what researchers are calling the "Symbiocene"—an era defined by collaborative, regenerative relationships with nature. At the center of this transition is an ancient, subterranean organism: mycelium.[3][7]

Once relegated to the fringes of experimental eco-design, mycelium-based composites have officially entered the architectural mainstream. At recent global exhibitions, from Henning Larsen’s interactive pavilions at the 2025 Milan Design Week to award-winning modular pillars at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, bio-fabricated structures have taken center stage. These installations are proving that fungal materials are no longer just a poetic concept, but a viable, scalable alternative to some of the most environmentally damaging materials in the construction sector.[2][3]

To understand the potential of this material, one must look beneath the forest floor. Mycelium is the vegetative root network of fungi, composed of millions of microscopic, thread-like strands called hyphae. In nature, this network acts as a biological recycler, breaking down organic matter and binding the soil. In the design world, bio-engineers are harnessing this exact mechanism, using mycelium as a self-assembling, natural glue to bind agricultural byproducts into high-performance composites.[1][5]

The manufacturing process is remarkably passive, requiring a fraction of the energy used to produce synthetic plastics or engineered woods. Agricultural waste—such as hemp husks, sawdust, or rice straw—is inoculated with fungal spores, typically from robust species like Ganoderma lucidum or Pleurotus ostreatus. This mixture is packed into custom molds and left in the dark. Over the course of a few days, the hyphae network rapidly expands, consuming the organic waste and weaving it into a dense, solid mass that perfectly takes the shape of the mold.[1][5]

Crucially, the final step of this bio-fabrication process involves heat. Once the material has reached the desired density and shape, it is slowly baked or dried. This thermal treatment renders the mycelium entirely inert, permanently halting its growth and ensuring that mushrooms will not suddenly sprout from a living room wall or office ceiling. The resulting bio-composite is lightweight, structurally stable, and entirely plastic-free.[4][7]

The most immediate and commercially successful applications for mycelium are found in interior design, specifically in acoustic paneling and insulation. Companies pioneering these materials have developed modular wall panels that offer exceptional sound absorption. Because of the naturally porous, foam-like cellular structure of the dried hyphae, mycelium panels can trap and dissipate sound waves just as effectively as synthetic acoustic foams, but without the heavy environmental toll.[1][4]

Beyond acoustics, bio-fabricated interiors offer profound benefits for indoor air quality. Conventional furniture and engineered woods rely heavily on formaldehyde-based glues and synthetic resins, which continuously off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into homes and offices. Because mycelium is entirely self-binding, it eliminates the need for toxic adhesives. Public health data underscores that removing these Red List chemicals is critical for long-term respiratory and neurological health, particularly in tightly sealed, high-density urban environments.[6][7]

This chemical neutrality dovetails with a growing movement toward neuro-inclusive and biophilic design. Architects are increasingly recognizing that the textures, acoustics, and material safety of a space directly impact the autonomic nervous system. The organic, suede-like finish of mycelium furniture and wall treatments provides a tactile connection to nature that synthetic plastics cannot replicate. By blurring the boundary between the biological and the built environment, these materials help lower cortisol levels and promote a parasympathetic state of calm for occupants.[6][7]

Despite its rapid adoption in interiors, mycelium faces distinct physical limitations when it comes to structural architecture. The material is not on the verge of replacing steel beams or load-bearing concrete in high-rise construction. Rigorous material testing reveals that while mycelium blocks can be engineered to be roughly twice as strong as compressed earth, their compressive strength is still closer to that of dense wood or expanded polystyrene (EPS).[1][2]

To circumvent these load-bearing constraints, architects are developing hybrid structural systems. By pairing mycelium panels with traditional timber frames or using them as non-load-bearing facade insulation, builders can maximize the material's benefits without compromising structural integrity. In these applications, mycelium truly shines, offering thermal insulation properties that rival fiberglass and sheep's wool, alongside a surprisingly high natural fire resistance. Unlike petroleum-based foams that melt and release toxic smoke, mycelium composites boast a high char yield and self-extinguishing capabilities.[1][2]

The most profound advantage of mycelium, however, is its end-of-life cycle. The construction and furniture industries are notorious for generating millions of tons of non-recyclable landfill waste annually. Expanded polystyrene, commonly used for packaging and insulation, can take centuries to break down. In stark contrast, a mycelium composite is fully biodegradable. When broken into pieces and exposed to the active microbes in outdoor soil, a mycelium block will safely compost and return its nutrients to the earth in roughly 45 to 50 days.[2][5]

Looking ahead, the next frontier of bio-design may involve leaving the fungi alive. While today's commercial products are rendered inert for stability, synthetic biologists and avant-garde designers are exploring the concept of "active" furniture. Future projections for the 2030s envision dormant mycelium surfaces that can be selectively rehydrated to self-heal scratches, or the integration of bioluminescent fungal strains to provide zero-electricity ambient lighting in homes.[7]

Whether inert or active, the integration of mycelium into our daily spaces represents a fundamental rethinking of how we make things. It challenges the deeply ingrained assumption that human progress requires environmental degradation. By partnering with nature's oldest recyclers, the design world is proving that the future of the built environment doesn't have to be extracted from the earth—it can be grown from it.[3][7]