SYNAPTIC GARDENS: Mycelium of Celestial Geometries and Mortal Tectonics
Can we reimagine the ways with which we build and manufacture, in alignment with nature?
Architecture connects humans to organic and inorganic matter, and this interconnectivity forms our reality. I’ve chosen three reality planes: the neural network of biological neurons, the mycelial (fungi filaments) network underground, and the celestial network of the sky. The project of “SYNAPTIC GARDENS: Mycelium of Celestial Geometries and Mortal Tectonics” unravels these unseen interconnected links through the analogy of mind, body and soul. The building itself is based on a tripartite organization, encompassing the MMU Faculty of Health and Faculty of Education expansions, as well as a physiotherapy clinic open to the public.
Both a “living, breathing, growing” building and a self-sufficient ecosystem, the project’s focus is on the integration of biomaterials in construction and biophilic space organization. Inspired by the research work of MIT Media Lab professor Neri Oxman, I created an architectural proposal that merges design, biology, computing, and materials engineering. This is where my own research journey for mycelium as a biomaterial started: from iterative testing of mycelium brick configurations, exploring different design possibilities for organic structural columns clad in mycelium mesh, to growing mushroom (mycelium fruit) varieties for consumption and creating an exhibition space for further educating on the possibilities of biomaterials for a sustainable future.
This project has allowed me to grow in the direction of biophilic and parametric design, using 3D digital software like Revit and Rhino, as well as rendering programmes like Enscape, Lumion and Twinmotion to make my vision come to life. Physical model-making has also been something I enjoyed this year, to further explore material tactility and aesthetic. The challenge of this project was cementing the status of biomaterials as a viable construction material, with research in technology and biology, and its applicability in real-life.
