As part of a larger module called “Urban Bio-Cycles – Mycelium Digitalisation: Re Establishing Bio-Cycles Through Additive and Subtractive Digital Fabrication Strategies”, the proposed research builds upon current challenges and unexplored potentials of applications of Mycelium-bound composites in the field of Architecture and Construction. Specifically, it emphasizes the role of mycelium bio-welding for large-scale architectural components. Specifically, it aims to develop novel structural applications for mycelium-bound composites by combining digital and robotic fabrication with biologically mediated processes. The foreseen outcome and generally the contribution of the Digital Building Technologies group (dbt) within the larger research scope, will consist of the bio-fabrication of three large bio-welded demonstrators. Those will serve as a reference to evaluate novel potential architectural applications for Mycelium-bound composites while showcasing innovative in-situ bio-fabrication and design approaches

The main goal of this research is to explore the bio-welding of large-scale mycelium bio-composites while broadening the use of digital fabrication toward biologically and environmentally mediated processes. The conscientious integration of design and digital and robotic fabrication with a wide range of scientific disciplines contributes to expanding the use of fungal-based materials in architecture. The essential integrative domains supporting this research are a) Digital design and b) Digital and Robotic fabrication applied to Fungal materials. Fundamentally this research aims to provide a comprehensive overview and understanding of fundamental aspects of the bio-fabrication of large-scale mycelium composites with the following objectives.

— This research was made possible by the ETH Singapore’s Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) Global Project, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Singapore.

Prof. Benjamin Dillenburger(supervisor), Prof. Philippe Block (second-advisor), Dr. Francis Schwarze ( co-advisor)