Mycelium as a living building material? It’s no longer a question. Last week at Salone, Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen and Politecnico de Milano university collaborated on Growing matter(s), a sensory pavilion exploring bio-based materials.

This is the beginning of a conversation where mushrooms take main stage as a functional material in design.

Mycelium is the root-like structure of fungus with a now known network of collaboration and cooperation. Their “mycorrhizal network” is akin to hand holding and the elevated morality of resource sharing.

The pavilion was both a steel structure and a living, growing experiment.

Growing matter(s) was made of 80 spheres, no two alike. This outdoor exhibit was a visual demonstration of how mycelium grows, adapts, and transforms based on natural effects such as humidity, airflow, and its surrounding environment.

“Our contribution to Milan Design Week explores the use of living materials, challenging our understanding of permanence, control, and beauty in design and asking the question: how do we design with a material that keeps growing?”

Growing matters(s) included contributions from architects, researchers, and students.  

Learn more about the Growing matter(s) project here.