Form – Matter – Performance; Mycelium-based Composites for Architecture
Due to the climate emergency, our world is subject to changes almost every day. The building industry has the biggest share of carbon emissions, so architects and designers must conform to the change and shift the design and manufacturing paradigms accordingly. The importance of materials and their role in the design and manufacturing of any physical object is undeniable. Our approaches to using and forming materials might be the key to conforming to the ever-changing world.
In contrast to the common understanding of the relationship between form and matter in design and making, there is a less-practiced approach that values the uncertainties in the processing of the materials. In this approach, the hylomorphic model of creation is challenged. In hylomorphism, form is the substantial part of making and gives the essence and identity to the matter. However, this alternative approach does not separate form and matter.
This research focuses on the interrelationships between form, matter, and structural performance in addressing the challenges related to the inherent uncertainty of biomaterials and their use in architecture as structural elements, with a specific focus on mycelium-based composites. Mycelium-based composites are lightweight and biodegradable biomaterials obtained from the incomplete cultivation of the vegetative root of fungi on organic substrates. Fungal biomaterials, specifically mycelium-based composites, can be cultivated on various organic substrates, including byproducts or waste of other industries and locally available resources. By implementing mycelium-based composites in temporary and low-rise constructions as alternatives for conventional load-bearing elements, it would be possible to decrease the amount of waste produced by the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and reduce carbon emissions.
Unconventional materials and techniques are still under development in the lab and studio environments and seem far from large-scale industrial functions. However, they seem promising in addressing many of the challenges of our era, such as population growth, global warming, and the depletion of natural resources. This study barely touched the surface of a profound concept that lets architects and designers see some novel outcomes. This field of research seems promising and undeniable for shaping the future of materials and architecture. This research is a step forward in understanding how to work with these materials and techniques and take advantage of these sustainable alternatives for the future.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alighaz/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oHudRKkAAAAJ&hl=en
Advisers/Committee