MycoMat

MycoMat is a visionary concept for a regenerative, zero-waste structure that is capable of growing on site using mycelium—nature’s underground network of fungal roots—and biodegradable formwork. Designed to decompose harmlessly back into the earth, it provides sustainable, temporary shelter with virtually no environmental footprint.

Originally inspired by concepts for NASA’s Mars habitats, MycoMat has since evolved into a scalable, cost-effective solution for a wide range of public gatherings—from music festivals and weddings to community potlucks and outdoor exhibitions.

This isn’t just architecture.

It’s living architecture—designed to grow, serve, and return to nature.

1. Sketches - what geometry should the building blocks be? How would I make the mycelium conform in such a way?
2. Pencil
3. Eraser
4. Paper (notebook)
5. Model
6. balsa wood - for frames
7. paper - as a way to model mycelium
8. cotton balls - more mycelium
9. paper dowels - structural support
10. ruler
11. hot glue gun
12. elmer's glue
13. x acto knife

A record breaking 96,000 people attended Taylor Swift's Era's Tour concert last year in Melbourne Australia. Large-scale events like this produce staggering amounts of waste, including single-use plastics, food remnants, and abandoned tents. These challenges formulate the urgency for sustainable design interventions.

Our promising solution lies in an unlikely source: mushrooms. Or more specifically, mycelium.

My first encounter with mycelium—the root-like network of fungi—was during a field trip to our local science museum. I was immediately intrigued by its potential. Mycelium is not only fully biodegradable but also capable of growing into custom forms, making it an excellent candidate for sustainable containers and temporary structures. Remarkably, it can also aid in composting organic waste, and some strains even contribute to breaking down certain plastics.

This discovery led me to further research, where I found that companies like IKEA are already implementing mycelium in small-scale packaging as a green alternative to polystyrene. In more visionary applications, NASA has been exploring mycelium-based modular habitats for future Mars missions, highlighting the material’s adaptability and promise.

By integrating mycelium into event infrastructure, we can begin to reimagine temporary design solutions that are both functional and regenerative—addressing waste at its root (see what I did there? 😉).

Mycelium thrives in controlled environments, making it highly suitable for mass production within custom molds. During the design process, I explored a variety of geometries—triangles for their strength, bricks for insulation—but ultimately selected thin plates or mats for their versatility and efficiency.

These MycoMats are cultivated within wooden frames and can be precisely cut to meet specific construction needs. Their modular nature allows construction teams to easily stack and assemble them into both rigid, block-like structures and more flexible, fabric-inspired geometries. This adaptable form factor makes them an ideal solution for a wide range of architectural applications, as illustrated above.

Modeling serves as a form of three-dimensional sketching for me, allowing ideas to take physical shape. This project was particularly enjoyable to develop due to its emphasis on organic forms and materials. Rather than designing for a single, specific context, I chose to incorporate a variety of structural types in a "exhibition" to demonstrate the versatility of both the selected materials and the design language.

Balsa wood was used to construct the frames for the individual MycoMats, while paper dowels represented bamboo— the intended framing material for the full-scale structures. The mycelium component was symbolized using pom-pom balls, offering a visual and textural reference for the biomaterial.

On the first image, from left to right: Rigid Storage Structure; Soft Canopy Structure; Chair with MycoMat Material; Individual framed MycoMats.

Most MycoMats are grown in a facility, constructed on site, and fused together via some growth on site.

There are other usages that could be implemented with leftover MycoMats. Trash cans could collect compost for the next venue's mycelium to grow on. You could remove the framing on each Mat for clothing, the possibilities are endless.

In conclusion, MycoMats provide consumers a innovative way to create temporary venue structures; its just an idea now, but could be so much more if realized.