Fungateria

Is it possible to make shoes out of fungi? Fungateria depicts the wild perspectives of using mycelium, the root-like structure of a fungus, to make ELMs (engineered living materials).

ELMs are live cells that remain biologically active even after they have been transformed into specific products. This allows for radically different, tailor-made functionalities for non-living materials, such as self-regeneration, self-healing and environmental adaptation.

Dealing with live materials demands a keen awareness of the material’s needs in order to create healthy living conditions. Fungateria demonstrates how the act of caring for the material shifts the focus away from a human-first focus in the design process.

The project presents trailblazing alternatives to how materials are currently being manufactured. It showcases the potential for changing much more than the design itself. The practice also embodies significant social and cultural disruptors.