Abstract:
Modern urbanisation of cities and towns are an evidence of new direction of movement to adapt to current human needs, resulting in urban planning focusing on futuristic developments and architectural designs to compete at its finest technology and materials. We are constantly attempting to aim a mutual point between human, nature and technology, but due to restrictions and demands, we tend to blind ourselves to an unbreakable relationship between human and technology and thus devastate and unbalance the welfare of nature. Focusing on the investigation of mycelium (fungus root) and extracting their growth behaviours and adaptability, this thesis will examine the potential use of mycelium as a new source of bio-material in replacement of existing building material. Through lab experiments and fungal growth studies, two main results can be achieved :1. To study and experiment the extent of mycelium as physical structure material. 2. Digital simulations can be derived through mimicking the behaviours, and the range of possible architectural design resulting in use of mycelium as a new building material. With the wide range of possibilities integrating mycelium to architecture, this thesis seeks to focus on the promotion of mushroom agriculture, not only for consumption but also to investigate a recycle system that allows demolished building materials to be reused. Modern technology such as 3D printers can achieve new approach to construct parametric buildings that mimics the mycelium behaviours. Therefore, a balance between nature, technology and human is achievable, resulting in a new approach to examine biomimicry architecture.
