MYKO(Mycelium-Komposite in Swedish)
Basic information
Project Title
MYKO(Mycelium-Komposite in Swedish)
Full project title
MYKO for Transforming the Living by connecting back to your roots, The Nature
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
MYKO is a research by design sustainable business model focused on transforming the Living by connecting back to the roots, The Nature. Habitable spaces & products are realized to support and enhance the longevity of life on earth by eradicating the materials causing environmental degradation. Mycelium as a natural binding agent MYKO stays unique with its fabrication process by co-creating with nature and works for a shift towards a holistic natural environment to live in synergy with nature.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Sweden
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
MYKO works towards creating an integrated platform to balance Market Demands through the Design Wing and Scientific innovations through the Research Wing. The Design Wing focusses on introducing alternatives for lifestyle products with mycelium in inert state, thus changing the demand and supply pattern from plastic and concrete based products to bio-degradable mycelium composites. The Research Wing works with habitable structures by keeping the mycelium alive where the life cycle of the structures forms a closed loop circular system by providing shelter and food throughout the year. All the MYKO products finally goes back to soil as compost offering vital ecosystem services and expanding the biodiversity of flora and fauna, thus creating the shift from human centric design to Nature Centric Design. MYKKO strongly believes in the statement “ What comes from Nature, Goes back to Nature”, promoting a circular sustainable business from a Cradle to Cradle approach. MYKO products, thus renew and regenerate offering new life and hope to the generation now and Beyond! MYKO caters to the need of all people without any discrimination in economic background or region by providing affordable products designed by co-creating with nature. MYKO stays unique with its fabrication process by well utilizing the existing natural forces which is accessible for all to shape the products and strengthen by merging mycelium layers synonymously mimicking nature’s creation at all levels of design expression. The goal of MYKO is to finally create an awareness about the innovative possibilities nature can offer which can be accessed with wishful craftmanship and vision to accomplish.
Key objectives for sustainability
The principles of MYKO are well integrated in every aspect from ideation to fabrication and life cycle performance addressing the core values of sustainability with respect to climate actions, circularity, positive environmental footprint and biodiversity strongly committing and contributing to the SDG goals; Industry Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15).
MYKO design and process are conceptualized using growth as an element of Design propagation enhancing the natural flow of life across products and structures. The life cycle of the products both in alive and inert state forms a closed loop circular system with the composites made from cellulose waste from the agriculture, forestry and manufacturing industries such as jute, coir, saw dust, wood chips, hemp, paper, fabrics and inoculated with seeds and grains forming mycelium composites that is processed and fabricated to different usable elements catering to the functional application, which towards the end of its cycle goes back to soil as compost offering vital ecosystem services. The composites with inoculated seeds which are consciously planted or thrown away in the landfills still leaves with hope for regeneration with new plant life.
The fabrication techniques involves minimal energy (to maintain the desired mycelium growth) and resources (mainly from waste) and processed through heating and drying naturally based on the use of desired products, promoting responsible design and production.
MYKO design and process are conceptualized using growth as an element of Design propagation enhancing the natural flow of life across products and structures. The life cycle of the products both in alive and inert state forms a closed loop circular system with the composites made from cellulose waste from the agriculture, forestry and manufacturing industries such as jute, coir, saw dust, wood chips, hemp, paper, fabrics and inoculated with seeds and grains forming mycelium composites that is processed and fabricated to different usable elements catering to the functional application, which towards the end of its cycle goes back to soil as compost offering vital ecosystem services. The composites with inoculated seeds which are consciously planted or thrown away in the landfills still leaves with hope for regeneration with new plant life.
The fabrication techniques involves minimal energy (to maintain the desired mycelium growth) and resources (mainly from waste) and processed through heating and drying naturally based on the use of desired products, promoting responsible design and production.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The unique fabrication process of utilizing the tensile woven ropes to create the base geometry not only caters to creating formwork, but the craftmanship hidden in weaving the rope connects people to their roots of weaving fabrics across the globe in their own traditional cultural method. MYKO products and process are unique in its way of offering different functional properties of mycelium composites by growing monolithic homogenous elements by altering different substrates. With the fact that the properties of hardness,softness, tactility, compression and flexibility of mycelium composite change with the form and properties of cellulose based substrates, different combination of substrates are used to grow a monolithic element with different inherent properties such as compression and softness. This gives the end user with added experience and comfort while using the MYKO products across the interior, retail, public furniture and Shelters.
The design solutions also gives the end user with possible interaction with other species by sharing common spaces for co-habitation when maintained in alive state. This re-orients humankind to experience the beauty and true values of reconnecting with nature from the roof over their head to the products used as part of their life.
The design solutions also gives the end user with possible interaction with other species by sharing common spaces for co-habitation when maintained in alive state. This re-orients humankind to experience the beauty and true values of reconnecting with nature from the roof over their head to the products used as part of their life.
Key objectives for inclusion
The combination of Design and Research wing is mainly initiated to accelerate the accessibility and affordability of MYKO by producing conscious design. MYKO fosters change towards accessibility by inclusive design solution through products with usability across different groups of people across retail and home furnishing to applicability in public landscapes and affordable shelters, with solutions across diverse areas to promote the use of bio-based environmental friendly sustainable materials. The fact that mycelium composite mixture is produced from waste and processed through minimal energy use for fabrication makes MYKO design solutions accessible and affordable for all. With prospective opportunities to collaborate MYKO looks forward in creating public furniture and shelters in public landscape with the possibility to co-create with different communities creating social interaction through community participation and dialogue creating awareness and knowledge across the end users and thus educating the need for clean environments to grow mycelium composites. While MYKO focusses on inclusion, it doesn't stop with in humans but across different species that interact and benefit from the MYKO shelters. The end goal of MYKO is to grow mycelium shelters promoting cleanliness and affordability as the New Norm and equip the end user with the knowledge and benefit they offer to the next generation and environment through Bio-based design.
How Citizens benefit
Humans are adaptive living being, from apes to humans there has been constant evolution to adapt to the changing environment. Such development could gradually bring in behavioral change among people as the material management and growth of mycelium requires clean hygienic environment when mycelium is maintained alive and could eventually support the health and wellbeing of the communities as the process is cost effective. With the perfect balance between research and marketable design solutions across MYKO, there is constant involvement exploration in expanding mycelium application in the public realm catering to nature centric projects that support and benefit the people and the society.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
What makes MYKO unique is the innovative fabrication process of co-creating with nature. The form is achieved by well utilizing the natural gravitational force and the micro organism plays its role in retaining the shape in place. This is followed by merging different layers of mycelium composite made from similar or different substrates based on the required mechanical, structural and aesthetic quality. Mycelium forms an integral part in stitching the gap between the humans and non-humans for their symbiotic co-existence. This makes MYKO’s product stand out compared to the current applications thriving in the market that uses one homogenous substrate for the mycelium composite, which is shaped by either using molds or 3D printing techniques for applications across acoustics and building materials, fashion and products. Both the Design and Research wing of MYKO focus on this co-existence at different levels. Designs where the elements are maintained in inert state provide significant value across the functional comfort and tactility to humans with the end of life marked by the growth of plant species supporting biodiversity and food source for other species. While maintained in alive state the mushroom fruiting bodies act as food source both for humans and bees and other species.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
This concept evolves at the intersection of Design, Biology and Innovation where nature is a true inspirer for design initiation and development. The fundamental laws of nature and the existing forces help shape the products which is built upon understanding geometry and structure. Inspiration drawn from the organic nature of living materials and their lifecycle of growth and decay are carefully integrated in the design principles. This model exemplifies the beneficial innovative sustainable and inspiring outcomes when all the disciplines unite, synonymously replicating nature itself which holds and units everything and everyone together as a whole.
Methodology used
MYKO works towards creating an integrated platform to balance Market Demands through the Design Wing and Scientific innovations through the Research Wing. The Design Wing focusses on introducing alternatives for lifestyle products with mycelium in inert state, thus changing the demand and supply pattern from plastic and concrete based products to bio-degradable mycelium composites and thus breaking the concept of waste through the circular process. The Research Wing works with habitable structures by keeping the mycelium alive where the life cycle of the structures forms a closed loop circular system by providing shelter and food throughout the year.
While there are a lot of research in the lines of mycelium composites, the outreach and marketable products are less. MYKO acts as a platform to create familiarity and trust by introducing bio-based alternatives to existing products through exploration and research across education and innovation with focus on creating awareness and knowledge among the consumer which alter the current demand and supply market in-turn accelerating need for environmental friendly innovation and design in the young minds. Besides the products being circular, the entire business model of MYKO is in itself circular by adapting research by design methodology.
While there are a lot of research in the lines of mycelium composites, the outreach and marketable products are less. MYKO acts as a platform to create familiarity and trust by introducing bio-based alternatives to existing products through exploration and research across education and innovation with focus on creating awareness and knowledge among the consumer which alter the current demand and supply market in-turn accelerating need for environmental friendly innovation and design in the young minds. Besides the products being circular, the entire business model of MYKO is in itself circular by adapting research by design methodology.
How stakeholders are engaged
The project and process of evolution of MYKO is rooted to my Master Thesis Project “Mycelbiosis- To Live in Synergy with Nature” which sets the base for the novel innovation. Chalmers University of Technology and my supervisor Jonas Lundberg who introduced me to the benefits of mycelium have played a significant role in setting a strong motive and direction to navigate and set the right intensions for expanding MYKO. The Project currently does not involve stakeholder at local or regional level, but this sustainable business model opens new doors for interaction between stakeholder across public and municipalities, to NGO’s and business entrepreneurs. But I would also like to emphasis on the fact that nature and the natural forces themselves act as key stakeholders, which nurtures the creation and evolution of MYKO throughout the product lifecycle.
Global challenges
MYKO addresses the major Global challenges of Sustainable development and Climate change by offering nature centric bio-based inclusive design solutions that work holistically in an interdisciplinary approach. The design work from a bottom up methodology by renewing waste to useful bio-based products and solutions to educate the user with smart day-to-day solutions, with a positive outlook in changing the demand and acceptance for the new norm. This process is enhanced by the use of mycelium composites initially inoculated with seeds which gives hope for new life even when it is discarded in landfills, which over the years converts land fills to new areas for survival. In my view even a single thriving tree across an abandoned landfill offers vital services to several species and the environment. Well tomorrow is unknown, and MYKO gives us hope for renewal, regeneration and rebirth by giving back to Nature in every way possible.
While sustainability is not a linear process but a circular system from production, consumption to regeneration, MYKO does just that for Transforming the Living across people and communities creating a positive impact towards climate change and loss of biodiversity creating balance and harmony in nature.
While sustainability is not a linear process but a circular system from production, consumption to regeneration, MYKO does just that for Transforming the Living across people and communities creating a positive impact towards climate change and loss of biodiversity creating balance and harmony in nature.
Learning transferred to other parties
Literally every aspect of MYKO has the potential to be replicated across the world from business model to fabrication process as the main components that governs the design, technology and products mainly utilizes resources available almost anywhere. The natural fabrication process makes it simple, affordable and scalable across all areas. The design solutions offered across the product ranges with mycelium at inert state has wide scope of expansion and application across different areas globally, while the solutions where mycelium is maintained alive pose limitations in relation to the suitable environmental and climatic conditions for the mycelium to flow with the natural seasonal changes across a few counties, but this remains the ongoing research MYKO intends to work on in the following years.
Keywords
Myko for a better tomorrow
Sustainable craftmanship
Co-creation with nature
Existential design for co-existence
Waste to Rebirth
