Mycology for Architecture explores how mycelium - the root network of fungi - as a living material is transforming architecture into a discipline that is not only sustainable but regenerative, adaptive and deeply entangled with ecological systems. Bringing together leading researchers, practitioners and educators, it charts how living matter is reshaping the way we conceive, fabricate and inhabit built environments.
Organised in three parts, the book begins by positioning mycelium as an alternative to conventional construction materials, with applications ranging from bricks and skins to adaptive structures and even space habitats. The second part turns to the methods and practices of working with living fungi, from laboratory protocols and workshop formats to experimental pedagogies that challenge conventional design education. The final section showcases advanced fabrication strategies that push the limits of mycelium composites toward sustainable, scalable futures.
By weaving together theory, fabrication and pedagogy, this book presents biodesign as a critical method rather than a speculative novelty. It invites architects, designers and researchers to rethink material assemblies and to embrace nonlinear, adaptive processes as integral to a more just, climate-responsive future.
Importance: the climate crisis, resource scarcity, and the urgent need for sustainable materials make it essential to reconsider how we design and build. Mycelium offers a renewable, biodegradable, low-carbon alternative to conventional materials like plastics and foams.
Useful: mycelium is not just a theoretical concept - it is already being applied in packaging, product design and prototyping. Extending it to architecture opens applications in insulation, acoustics, lightweight structures and carbon-negative systems.
New: while there has been growing interest in biodesign, no dedicated architectural text has focused exclusively on mycelium. This book fills that gap, showing how this living system can be cultivated, shaped and integrated into building practices. It also highlights cutting-edge methods in digital fabrication, biotechnology and space exploration research.
Exciting: mycelium blurs the boundaries between biology and architecture & design, opening new aesthetic and functional possibilities. Designing with living systems challenges conventional thinking, encourages creativity and inspires visions of a more sustainable and symbiotic future. For students, researchers, and professionals, the field is still emerging - making this a rare opportunity to engage with a discipline as it develops in real time.
What makes this book unique is its interdisciplinary authorship. None ...