Knitting and fungus: the future of building?

Image source, Ben Bridgens

Image caption, The structure will be on show at the Edinburgh Science Festival
  • Author, Maddie Paige
  • Role, 大象传媒 Radio Newcastle

In a disused shop front in Newcastle city centre, a structure made from the roots of fungus, sawdust and paper fibres is being grown.

It is part of research by Newcastle and Northumbria universities to find more sustainable practices when constructing buildings.

Called biofabrication, researchers hope it could reduce transportation needed to ship individual parts as it can be made locally on-site.

The project will be shown at the Edinburgh Science Festival from 30 March to 14 April.

Image source, Ben Bridgen

Image caption, Paste is plastered on to a knitted formwork

To make the 4m long and 3m high prototype, the team mixed mycelium spores (mushroom "roots") with sawdust and paper fibres to form a paste.

It is then plastered on to a knitted formwork, suspended in the air and encouraged to grow in a dark, warm and humid environment.

As it grows, the substances bind together to transform from a soft knitted textile into a rigid material.

Dr Jane Scott, who is leading the project, said the structure demonstrates how mycelium textiles "will redefine our experience of architectural space".