Hyphae
Microscopic fungal threads that branch, connect, and move through organic material.
Science
What is mycelium?
Mycelium is the root-like network of fungi. When grown through organic substrates such as agricultural byproducts, sawdust, husk, or other organic matter, it can bind particles together into lightweight composite forms.
In a composite, the mycelium acts like a natural binder. The final properties depend on substrate, density, geometry, growth conditions, drying, finishing, and testing.
Mycelium
The network formed by hyphae. This network can bind a substrate together.
Chitin + glucans
Structural compounds in fungal cell walls that contribute to stiffness, texture, and form.
Approach
Why grow materials?
Most materials are extracted, melted, fired, or synthesized through high-energy industrial systems. Mycelium offers a different direction: materials grown through biology, shaped through tooling, and developed from local organic waste streams.
For Culture Assembly, mycelium is both a material and a production question: what could we make if waste became feedstock, molds became habitats, and manufacturing became closer to cultivation?
Local waste streams
Agricultural and organic byproducts can become inputs for regional material systems.
Low-energy forming
The material grows into shape inside molds, reducing the need for high-heat forming during early prototyping.
Designed for interiors
We are exploring applications for furniture, acoustic surfaces, lighting, objects, and spatial studies.
Qualities
Material qualities we are studying.
Mycelium composites are not a single material. Their behavior changes with recipe, density, geometry, finishing, and testing. Our research focuses on how these variables can support useful, beautiful interior applications.
01
Lightweight
Low-density composite forms for panels, objects, and interior elements.
02
Mold-grown
Forms can be grown inside designed molds, allowing biology and tooling to shape the final object.
03
Textural
Natural variation creates surfaces with warmth, grain, and visible material character.
04
Bio-based
Organic waste streams can become feedstock for material experiments.
05
Locally sourced
Regional inputs can support shorter production loops and local material systems.
06
Under testing
Durability, moisture behavior, acoustic properties, and fire response require controlled testing before architectural use.
Process
From waste to grown form.
Our process studies how organic waste streams can be prepared, inoculated, grown, dried, and finished into useful composite forms.
01→
Collect waste streams
We explore agricultural, brewery, and organic byproducts as potential feedstocks for composite substrates.
02→
Prepare substrate
Inputs are cleaned, hydrated, and prepared into a suitable substrate for growth.
03→
Inoculate
Fungal culture is introduced so the mycelium can colonize and bind the material.
04→
Grow in molds
The material grows inside designed molds, allowing form and structure to emerge through cultivation.
05→
Dry and finish
The grown part is dried to stop growth, then trimmed, sanded, coated, or finished depending on the prototype.
06→
Test applications
We study form, density, durability, texture, acoustic potential, and interior applications.
Applications
Material applications.
We are currently developing prototypes and material studies for interiors, furniture, acoustic surfaces, lighting, objects, and exhibition environments.
Furniture
Stools, tables, shelves, seating elements, and lightweight interior objects.
Acoustic panels
Textural wall surfaces and acoustic studies for rooms, studios, hospitality, and cultural spaces.
Interior surfaces
Tiles, blocks, panels, and surface systems for warm, tactile interiors.
Lighting objects
Lamp bodies, shades, and sculptural lighting studies using grown composite forms.
Exhibition objects
Displays, plinths, partitions, and temporary spatial installations.
Packaging studies
Protective forms and molded packaging studies using bio-based composite structures.
Architectural material studies
Early-stage research into modular components, blocks, and surface systems.
Future biofabrication systems
Production experiments exploring how fungi, tooling, software, and local waste streams can work together.
Current studies
Objects, tiles, and surface systems.
Our current prototypes focus on small, testable formats that help us understand material behavior before larger-scale architectural applications.
Study 01
Modular tiles
Small-format tiles for texture, density, finishing, and installation studies.
Study 02
Interior blocks
Block-like forms for display, furniture, and spatial composition experiments.
Study 03
Acoustic surfaces
Relief patterns and porous geometries for future acoustic testing.
Study 04
Lighting objects
Warm, tactile forms for desktop and interior lighting studies.
Study 05
Furniture elements
Simple components for stools, shelves, benches, and object systems.
Study 06
Exhibition samples
Material pieces designed for handling, display, and conversation.
Collaboration
Material studies for exhibition and collaboration.
Culture Assembly is open to collaborations with architects, interior designers, curators, brands, hospitality projects, material researchers, and production partners interested in low-impact interiors, experimental objects, and regional bio-based production.
