myco-alga: 3D-Printed Mycelium and Algae Interior Tiles

 

bioMATTERS introduces MYCO-ALGA, a sustainable interior tiling system crafted from 3D-printed mycelium and algae. These tiles are composed of living organisms and upcycled natural and organic waste, ensuring a 100% biodegradable end product. Employing computational algorithms, the panels are digitally designed and then 3D printed, grown, and enriched with bio-pigments to infuse natural hues. Beyond aesthetic considerations, bioMATTERS’ process to develop living material and fabrication workflows seeks to evolve bio-aesthetics and ecological practices and promote a cultural shift to biomaterials in an age of climate crisis.

bioMATTERS crafts tiling system by 3D printing mycelium, algae, and organic waste
assembly of MYCO-ALGA tiles with non-repetitive pattern | all images courtesy of bioMATTERS

 

 

bioMATTERS upcycles waste for ecological design solutions

 

The MYCO-ALGA tiles undergo a multifaceted fabrication process, beginning with the upcycling of domestic and industrial waste materials. These materials are ground into a paste-like substrate, providing the foundation for the growth of mycelium — an entangled network of fungal filaments. Inoculated with mycelium, the paste is 3D printed into customized shapes, which are then cultivated in a climate-controlled environment for approximately two weeks. During this period, the mycelium grows and acts as a natural adhesive, weaving through the material and binding it together like a natural glue, eventually enveloping the entire panel’s surface.

 

To halt further growth, bioMATTERS placed the pieces in convection ovens, where drying and dehydration result in a rigid, durable, yet lightweight material. The final stage involves involves the application of bio-pigments extracted from harvested algae biomass. Transformed into gels, these pigments are 3D printed onto each tile to add color as an aesthetic enhancement. The completed MYCO-ALGA tiles transform interior spaces with their off-white mycelium and light green algae hues, presenting a soft, velvet-like texture and a distinct tactile quality. Each tile features distinct non-repetitive shapes based on computationally generated branching morphologies mirroring mycelial growth. Assembled across a surface, the tiles create a visually engaging mosaic of continuous pattern variations.

bioMATTERS crafts tiling system by 3D printing mycelium, algae, and organic waste
a biodegradable, ecological interior tiling system

bioMATTERS crafts tiling system by 3D printing mycelium, algae, and organic waste
crafted from 3D-printed mycelium, algae, and upcycled natural and organic waste

bioMATTERS crafts tiling system by 3D printing mycelium, algae, and organic waste
the waste materials are ground into a paste-like substrate, providing the foundation for the growth of mycelium

bioMATTERS crafts tiling system by 3D printing mycelium, algae, and organic waste
the panels are digitally designed then 3D printed, grown, and enriched with bio-pigments

sustainable interior tiling system by 3d printing mycelium and algae into non repetitive patterns

sustainable interior tiling system by 3d printing mycelium and algae into non repetitive patterns
algae bio-pigments made from harvested biomass

sustainable interior tiling system by 3d printing mycelium and algae into non repetitive patterns
each tile is computationally designed using generative algorithms and inspired by mycelial growth

 

 

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bio-fabrication 3D printing process of past substrate inoculated with mycelium
bio-fabrication 3D printing process of past substrate inoculated with mycelium

project info:

 

name: MYCO-ALGA
designer: bioMATTERS

 

 

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom