This one-day workshop offers an introduction to biofabrication with fungal mycelium, a versatile, renewable material that opens new perspectives for local production and decentralized manufacturing processes. Participants will learn the fundamentals of working with living organisms and develop their own material experiments. After a compact theoretical introduction to biofabrication and the properties of mycelium, the focus shifts to practical work in the biolab. Here, working methods, health & safety protocols, and mycelium cultivation techniques are demonstrated. Participants will test various local waste streams as nutrient substrates, from textile scraps and coffee grounds to grains and cardboard, experimenting with their suitability for mycelium cultivation. In the afternoon, initial molds will be created using the vacuum forming machine and filled with mycelium substrates. Following the workshop, students can continue their experiments independently and utilize the biolab and other workshop facilities to further develop their approaches.
about
Malu Lücking
Politecnico di Milano
Malu Lücking is a designer and researcher exploring how design can engage with marine ecosystems through biodesign and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work focuses on algae-based materials and speculative interventions that bridge creative practice with ocean science. She is a PhD candidate at Politecnico di Milano, investigating the material and spatial potential of the sea as a site for design innovation.