Hannover : Regionales Bauen und Siedlungsplanung, Leibniz Universität Hannover
Doi
Abstract
The research presented in this paper investigates the development of a modular system, which supports the growth of edible oyster mushrooms in the urban environment (i.e. public space, facades, rooftops), by producing both food and construction materials. It consists of modules to locate the mushroom substrate (straw and mycelium) and an external surface, parametrically designed, tailored to control the environmental conditions (e.g. shading and humidity). In order to develop a growing module as sustainable as possible, wood has been selected for realisation of panels and the frame structure. A second main objective of the installation, is to act as a demonstrator: creating a ‘culture of caring’ for locally sourced and produced food. The paper explores the complex design negotiations between these drivers, focusing particularly on their performance optimization, and finally highlights the system potential as exemplified through a successful implementation of a 1:1 responsive wall prototype