Abstract
This paper investigates the design potential of monolithically grown Mycelium-based Composites (MBCs) focusing on the integration of 3D knitted formworks within the fabrication process. Mycelium has gained attention as a sustainable, biodegradable, construction material with insulating, and self-healing capabilities. While there have been advancements in MBC, challenges remain in terms of structural complexity, stability, and design control at scale. Recent interest has emerged in digital fabrication methods and mould creation using textile logics and CNC knitting but fabricating mycelium within tubular soft moulds presents a lack of stability and uneven growth distribution. This, however, can be overcome by a novel technique using injection filling of Mycocrete, a viscous mycelium paste. This method enables the creation of complex designs within a two-staged fabrication process, while also providing high structural performance. The paper presents three case studies that demonstrate the impact of hanging, draping, and internal shape integration as fabrication steps. It examines the relationship between knitted soft mould design and biofabrication parameters, in relation to expression, shaping possibilities, and mycelium growth. The findings are based on visual observations and tacit knowledge gathered during the fabrication process. The paper concludes by emphasizing the significance of 3D knitted formworks in scaling-up MBCs in the built environment and its contribution to design and construction parameters. The newfound design control provided by these techniques opens up possibilities for material-saving and functionally graded design approaches. Further research in this area holds promise for advancing sustainable construction practices.
Keywords
3D-knitted Formwork; Mycelium; Biofabrication; Mycocrete.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/TI-2023/102
Citation
Kaiser, R., Scott, J., Dade-Robertson, M.,and Elsacker, E.(2023) Knit-Mycelium Hybrids: Designing and scaling up with bio fabrication systems based on Mycocrete injection in 3D knitted tubular formworks, in Tincuta Heinzel, Delia Dumitrescu, Oscar Tomico, Sara Robertson (eds.), Proceedings of Textile Intersections Conference 2023, 20 - 23 September, London, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/TI-2023/102
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Textiles and architecture
Topics
textiles, textiles design, architecture, interdisciplinary textiles
Included in
Knit-Mycelium Hybrids: Designing and scaling up with bio fabrication systems based on Mycocrete injection in 3D knitted tubular formworks
This paper investigates the design potential of monolithically grown Mycelium-based Composites (MBCs) focusing on the integration of 3D knitted formworks within the fabrication process. Mycelium has gained attention as a sustainable, biodegradable, construction material with insulating, and self-healing capabilities. While there have been advancements in MBC, challenges remain in terms of structural complexity, stability, and design control at scale. Recent interest has emerged in digital fabrication methods and mould creation using textile logics and CNC knitting but fabricating mycelium within tubular soft moulds presents a lack of stability and uneven growth distribution. This, however, can be overcome by a novel technique using injection filling of Mycocrete, a viscous mycelium paste. This method enables the creation of complex designs within a two-staged fabrication process, while also providing high structural performance. The paper presents three case studies that demonstrate the impact of hanging, draping, and internal shape integration as fabrication steps. It examines the relationship between knitted soft mould design and biofabrication parameters, in relation to expression, shaping possibilities, and mycelium growth. The findings are based on visual observations and tacit knowledge gathered during the fabrication process. The paper concludes by emphasizing the significance of 3D knitted formworks in scaling-up MBCs in the built environment and its contribution to design and construction parameters. The newfound design control provided by these techniques opens up possibilities for material-saving and functionally graded design approaches. Further research in this area holds promise for advancing sustainable construction practices.