GROW lamp table lamp source: flowandchaos.com
The process of using fungus as a manufacturing technique is called bio-fabrication. This process involves mixing bio-waste like dried corn stalks or seed husks and then bringing in mushroom spores along with plenty of water to create a nice fungus-friendly environment. The fungus will then grow to create a support structure out of mycelium which forms the matrix in this composite, the fungal mixture is then dried out to prevent further growth and sporing.
GROW kit being used to make a lampshade source: flowandchaos.com
Danielle has integrated bio-fabrication into lighting design as a world's first for lighting with her Mush Lume line of premium lighting fixtures. The dead fungus makes up the lampshade with traditional metal and wooden fixtures making up the rest of lamp.
If you’re a more hands-on kind of person you can even take the growth into your own hands with the less premium GROW lamp kits. The kits come with moulds to grow your mycelium into the desired shape. Creative liberty could be taken here with the mycelium happy to form into any shape you can mould it into.
Trofe isn’t alone in using mycelium, there are other designers doing awesome things with the fungus. David Benjamin used the biomaterial to create the bricks in a temporary structure for the New York MoMa ps1 summer exhibition. While Eric Klarenbeek has been 3D printing the mycelium into furniture creating bizzare organic shapes.
Eco packaging by Ecovative source: www.telegraph.co.uk
One of the most important ways mycelium is starting to be used is in packaging as an alternative to polystyrene. This organic packaging is seeing huge growth with International brands like Dell and Ikea getting on board. Ikea, in particular, announcing it will replace all styrofoam packaging with a fungal alternative. Mycelium being an organic material will rapidly biodegrade in a matter of a few weeks whereas polystyrene will take millennia to break down.
The growth of bio-fabrication is already starting to show us some awesome products from innovative designers like Danielle. We are excited to see the next big leap of this fascinating trend. If you share our passion or have an industrial design dream don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at Hone PD Melbourne on 9939 8880.