Mycelium Pavilion Sprouts NYC
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pagesandbits
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Based on reports from designboom, Andre Kong Studio has created an organic garden pavilion called "Homegrown Wonderland" for the New York Botanical Garden's exhibition, featuring walls made from mycelium bricks that evoke the whimsical transformation in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures.
Alice-Inspired Organic Design
Organic design inspired by Alice in Wonderland blends whimsical elements with natural forms to create fantastical yet functional spaces and objects. The Pack Sofa by Francesco Binfaré for Edra exemplifies this approach, reimagining a polar bear as a playful backrest on an ice floe-like seat platform.
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Other Alice-inspired pieces include Matteo Cibic's Animagic cabinet for Scarlet Splendour, which transforms a donkey's body into storage, and the Cherry Lamp by Nike Zupanc for Qeeboo, a oversized fruit-shaped ceiling light that plays with scale and imagination.1
These designs embrace the story's surreal qualities while incorporating organic shapes and materials, creating environments that blur the line between fantasy and reality. In jewelry design, collections like Sapphire Studios' "Two Worlds" incorporate iconic Alice motifs such as keys, rabbits, and playing card symbols into wearable art pieces that capture the tale's whimsical spirit.2
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Whimsical Mycelium Architecture
The "Homegrown Wonderland" pavilion by Andre Kong Studio ingeniously blends architectural whimsy with sustainable materials, creating a unique structure that captivates visitors at the New York Botanical Garden. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures, the installation juxtaposes a scaled-down timber cottage frame with organic walls made from full-sized mycelium bricks, evoking Alice's magical transformation
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. The pavilion's design, engineered by Arup, incorporates salvaged doors and windows from local New York homes, enhancing its sense of familiarity while perforated patterns in the roof and walls offer glimpses of the surrounding gardens, creating a psychedelic effect reminiscent of Carroll's fantastical narrative1
. This innovative use of mycelium as a building material not only showcases its potential in architecture but also aligns with sustainable practices, as the bricks will be composted and the timber reused after the exhibition ends in October 20241
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Sustainable Mushroom Materials
Mycelium-based materials are emerging as a promising sustainable alternative in construction and manufacturing. These materials are created by growing mycelium, the root structure of fungi, on agricultural waste products like straw or sawdust
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. The resulting composite is lightweight, fire-resistant, and fully biodegradable1
. Companies are developing mycelium bricks, insulation, and even furniture that offer eco-friendly alternatives to conventional materials2
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. In a groundbreaking project, MycoHAB has constructed the world's first fully functional house using mycelium technology in Namibia4
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. This innovative approach not only produces carbon-negative building materials but also creates jobs and generates income through the sale of edible mushrooms grown during the process4
. While still in early stages of development, mycelium-based materials show potential to revolutionize sustainable construction practices and contribute to circular urban economies6
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Related
What are the main challenges in using mycelium bricks for large-scale construction
How does the cost of mycelium bricks compare to traditional building materials
Can mycelium bricks be used for load-bearing structures
What are the potential applications of mycelium in the fashion industry
How does mycelium packaging compare to traditional packaging materials
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