In this exhibition, Hypha Co-Lab showcases different types of myco-fabrication processes and applications. Professional designers, architects and students’ objects are presented, spanning from acoustic panels, urns, seatings, vases, shoes, tableware, clothing, amongst others.

Working with mycelium – the filamentous network of fungi – forces us to embark on a cross-disciplinary space, intertwining design, biology, and to some extent, agriculture.

From a design perspective, mycelium offers interesting properties: light weight, fire resistant, floating, noise insulating, and biodegradable. Mycelium is also a living material and requires some understanding of biology. Even though some fungi species are commonly used to make mycelium materials, our knowledge is still limited. There are 6 times more species of fungi than of plants, and only 6 to 8 percent of them have even been described. There are likely many more species suitable for material fabrication that we are yet to discover.

In all of these projects, the notion of reciprocity has been explored, inspired by the symbiotic relationship of certain fungi species with their environment to find food and function in a system with mutual benefits for each element.

What if fungi could teach us to have a more mindful approach to biodesign, to see nature as less of a resource, but more as a model – a reprogrammable system, or even as a partner?

Hypha Co-Lab is non-profit created by a group of experienced designers and practitioners with a shared passion for working with mycelium as a material.

They aim at promoting understanding and adoption of mycelium materials through showcasing, dissemination, exchange of knowledge, practical skills and sharing of resources.