Mycology for Architecture: Methods and Applications of Mycelium Materials in the Built Environment

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 of the contributors are mycologists by training, yet each has successfully integrated fungi into their field – whether through material innovation, structural experimentation, pedagogical practice or digital fabrication. The book introduces both practical techniques and new conceptual frameworks for integrating mycelium into architecture. – Covers the history of fungi through the lens of mycelium as a biomaterial, establishing a foundation for its architectural potential. – Examines current methods for using mycelium in bricks, skins and composites, paired with a critical analysis of their mechanical performance, scalability and environmental impact – moving beyond proof-of-concept experiments to assess real-world viability. – Advances novel perspectives on sustainable futures, including exploration of under-researched fungal species, scenario-building for regenerative design, and speculative applications in extraterrestrial habitats. – Offers frameworks for creating “myco-lab” spaces that connect education, research and industry. – Introduces new pedagogical models for teaching with living systems and provides methodologies for treating fungi not just as a material, but as a design partner – integrating scientific experimentation into architectural practice to generate new knowledge. – Presents cutting-edge fabrication strategies, from CNC machining, robotics and additive manufacturing with living mycelium, to hybrid approaches that combine fungi with materials like upcycled clay. Large-scale digital workflows are documented, offering techniques that extend mycelium’s use beyond small-scale prototypes into architectural applications. This book is written for architects, designers, engineers, material researchers and educators who are seeking rigorous, practice-ready insights into working with mycelium. It will appeal equally to academics advancing biomaterial research, practitioners exploring sustainable alternatives in architecture and design, and educators developing new pedagogical models for teaching with living systems. Entrepreneurs and sustainability consultants will find strategies for scaling mycelium-based innovations, while students gain a clear entry point into biodesign methods. By moving beyond speculative “bio hype” to focus on tested techniques, performance analysis and fabrication workflows, the book positions itself as both a scholarly reference and a practical guide.