The architecture of decay
Architecture today is seen as something static and unresponsive. However, it is time to take a hint from biology and allow our buildings to grow, adapt and self-repair. With a strong focus on mycelium, I have created an algorithmic bio scaffold, which will choreograph the growth and decay of this organic material. Sourcing inspiration from the medical industry and tissue engineering, this bio scaffold fuses both digital fabrication and biology.
By studying the characteristics of mycelium through a previous research project, I discovered that fungus absorbs nutrients through its cell walls. Therefore, this 3d printed wooden form was seeded with mycelium cells in order to encourage the degradation of its external walls.
However, in order to control and choreograph the growth of the mycelium, a gradient of scale, porosity and materiality was implemented in order to control this fossilization process.
For structural purposes, the lower half of the scaffold is comprised of larger perforated pipes. In order to encourage the growth of the mycelium, the perforations will allow the mycelium to successfully degrade the scaffold at a faster rate. The mycelium mixture was inserted through a syringe and then incubated.
