In the project „crescere“, growing organisms are studied and used for design processes. To achieve closed production cycles series of experiments with fungal mycelium in combination with various substrates were carried out, employing the fungus as a shape defining material. The focus within the project was set on the composition of solid mycelium-based bodies. Thus, as an example, a bag was grown in a laboratory using a previously 3D printed mold. The nature of mushroom growth was taken into account during the design process to integrate details such as the holder and lid of the bag. Additional to solid prototypes, tests of flexible surfaces with pure mycelium were manufactured, to get a better understanding of mycelium as a growing organism.The project aims to steer the basic growth patterns of nature in such a design-oriented way that individual solutions for ecological design can be created.
