sustainable-design
Sustainable design applies ecological principles to the creation of products, structures, and systems, aiming to minimize environmental impact while promoting well-being through mindful choices in materials, energy, and resource use. In plant science, this approach drives research into bio-based materials—such as fungal mycelium and plant fibers—that can replace synthetic, resource-intensive alternatives in construction, packaging, and manufacturing. By studying how plant and fungal biology can inform low-impact material production, researchers contribute to more circular, regenerative systems that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and industrial waste.
open_in_new WikipediaOpenAlex · 2026-07-16
Researchers used AI-driven design algorithms alongside a living fungus, Ganoderma lucidum, to grow sound-absorbing acoustic panels, shaping both the panel's surface pattern and an internal air channel network that helps the fungus grow. The project shows how digital design and living materials can team up to make functional building materials that are grown rather than manufactured.
A genetic algorithm optimized panel surface patterns for sound diffusion using acoustic simulations of a 6x4x3m room, run through Rhino-Grasshopper and the Pachyderm plug-in.
A separate proximity algorithm designed a 3D-printed biodegradable wood-PLA scaffold that acts as an internal aeration network to boost oxygen flow and fungal growth within the panel.
Two working prototypes were built and grown, a 15x15cm proof-of-concept and a 40x40cm scaled-up panel, using CNC-milled MDF molds, vacuum-formed PET, and Ganoderma lucidum mycelium.
