Whycellium- Sewing the seeds of tomorrow
My project in Stockport focuses on vocational heritage, aiming to evolve the town's textile industrial legacy into a contemporary sustainable model. Centred around mycelium leather production, the project aims to redefine the town's identity to meet modern demands. This transformative process challenges conventional views of factories and craftsmanship, following the science-practitioner model, envisaging architecture as a platform for fostering social unity and communal engagement.
The programme supports urban regeneration goals, providing educational resources for sustainable-living practices. Mycelium, a 100% compostable raw material, requires only a fraction of the energy needed to produce plastic or cardboard. Unlike animal-derived materials, mycelium doesn't emit methane, contributing to a manufacturing cycle that nurtures a localised and circular economy.
Naturally illuminated workshops and exhibition spaces with flexible layouts challenge traditional hierarchies, prioritise user well-being, stimulating creativity. Areas cater to user preferences, including group collaboration rooms, individual work pods and private consultation rooms. Recreational spaces like the cafe and the community garden stimulate community bonds.
Innovative materials like mycelium and locally-sourced glulam are used alongside concrete and steel to create a structure that embodies warmth and flexibility, the design allowing spaces to adapt to changing needs, with mycelium partitions that can be reconfigured on-site. A double skin façade is employed for noise reduction and environmental benefits, while abundant glazing and a central atrium maximise natural light. Additionally, a hybrid-ventilation system is implemented, and a water-collection system supports plant irrigation and toilets.
Guided by this synergistical ethos, the project seeks to establish a technological centre and laboratory that merges innovation, practicality, and social engagement. It aims to demonstrate various ways to reduce dependence on current polluting industries. By producing mycelium-based products such as clothing, construction materials, furniture, and even food, Stockport can become a pivotal centre in this industry, aspiring to a new era of sustainable development.
