05_mycotree_exhibition_carlina-teteris_16x9_1504424003.jpg

Design of a load-bearing mycelium structure through informed structural engineering

Heisel F., Schlesier K., Lee J., Rippmann M., Saeidi N., Javadian A., Hebel D.E. and Block P.
Proceeding of the World Congress on Sustainable Technologies (WCST)
2017

MycoTree is a spatial branching structure made out of load-bearing mycelium components. Its geometry was designed using 3D graphic statics, utilizing compression-only form to enable the weak material to perform structurally. Built from only mycelium and bamboo, the structure represents a provocative vision of how one may move beyond the mining of our construction materials from the earth’s crust to their cultivation and urban growth; how achieving stability through geometry rather than through material strength opens up possibilities to use weaker materials structurally and safely; and ultimately, how regenerative resources in combination with informed structural design have the potential to propose an alternative to established building materials for a more sustainable construction industry.

BibTeX

@inproceedings{Heisel2017,
    author    = "Heisel, F. and Schlesier, K. and Lee, J. and Rippmann, M. and Saeidi, N. and Javadian, A. and Hebel, D.E. and Block, P.",
    title     = "Design of a load-bearing mycelium structure through informed structural engineering",
    booktitle = "Proceeding of the World Congress on Sustainable Technologies (WCST)",
    year      = "2017",
    editor    = "",
    volume    = "",
    number    = "",
    pages     = "",
    publisher = "",
    address   = "",
    month     = "December",
    doi       = "",
    note      = "",
}

Related publications

Hebel D., Block P., Heisel F. and Méndez Echenagucia T.Beyond Mining - Urban Growth: The architectural innovation of cultivated resources through appropriate engineering,Imminent Commons: The Expanded City,Alejandro Zaera-Polo, Jeffrey S. Anderson (editors),Actar Publishers,2017.Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2017 - Exhibition Catalogue.
BibTeX
Lee J., Van Mele T. and Block P.Form-finding explorations through geometric manipulations of force polyhedrons,Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2016,Tokyo, Japan,2016 (September).
BibTeXPDF
Lee J., Van Mele T. and Block P.Area-controlled construction of global force polyhedra,Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2017,Hamburg,2017 (September).
BibTeXPDF
ETH ZurichDARCHITA

 

ETH Zurich
Institute of Technology in Architecture
Block Research Group
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 1, HIB E 45
8093 Zurich, Switzerland
haake@arch.ethz.ch
block.arch.ethz.ch

+41 44 633 38 35  phone
+41 44 633 10 53  fax

Copyright © 2009-2024 Block Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.