Mushrooms as a material of the future: Sustainable construction in the focus of the discussion!

Mushrooms as a material of the future: Sustainable construction in the focus of the discussion!

A public panel discussion on sustainable building materials entitled “What the Fungus” will take place on April 11, 2025. Organized by the TU Berlin, the event will take place at the Neuköllner Opera in Berlin and begins at 8 p.m., directly after the performance of the musical theater piece “GEGENGIFT”. This event provides insights into the innovative use of mushrooms as a building material and is led by Prof. Dr. Vera Meyer, who researches at the TU Berlin. The stage design of “GEGENGIFT” also consists largely of mushroom mycelium, a material that is characterized by its heat-insulating, light and water-repellent properties.

The use of fungal materials in the construction industry, which Meyer and her team are researching, could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional materials such as concrete and steel. Meyer particularly emphasizes the social perspectives that mushroom materials can offer the construction industry. Their research shows how these materials can be used as sustainable building materials in combination with natural raw materials such as straw, sawdust and hemp shives. The experimental building material, manufactured by the TU Berlin and the University of the Arts, offers numerous advantages and is already the subject of a play.

Sustainability and innovative strength

The use of mushroom mycelium as a building material opens new horizons for the construction industry. This natural raw material is created by the thread-like cells of fungi, which are called hyphae. Together they form a mycelium that creates a three-dimensional network of organic materials. Through the growth of the mycelium, stable and sustainable building materials can be created that have a variety of properties such as porosity and elasticity. These materials can be formed into various shapes and stabilized through thermal treatment.

The potential of mushroom materials will also be presented at the BAU trade fair, which will take place from January 13th to 17th, 2025. Here, Fraunhofer UMSICHT is showing technical application examples and exhibits made from mycelial material at the Fraunhofer Construction Alliance's joint stand. The alliance's motto, “Future MissionConstruction – affordable.sustainable.safe,” illustrates the focus on sustainable and resource-saving construction practices.

A plea for collaboration between science and art

Meyer calls for closer collaboration between science and art to realize the full potential of fungal materials and other bio-based materials. In her essay “Back to the roots!” In the volume of essays “The Divide Between Humanities and Science: Why it Matters and How it can be Repaired,” edited by Richard C. Brusca, she explains these considerations. Their research and associated projects could play a groundbreaking role for the future construction industry, in particular:

• Technische Lösungen für klimaresilientes Bauen
• Ressourcen- und Klimaschutz in der Bauproduktion
• Die Entwicklung von CO₂-negativen Herstellungsverfahren

The panel discussion therefore not only offers a platform for exchange about sustainable materials, but also shows how artistic approaches and scientific findings can work together to develop future-oriented solutions for the construction industry.