Mumbai-based design studio Anomalia constructed a public installation for the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism using mushroom mycelium and agricultural waste, offering a tangible look at cultivated building materials. Titled “Walls of Public Life,” the project debuted at Seoul’s Songhyeon Green Plaza as part of the event’s first outdoor exhibition curated by Thomas Heatherwick.
Cultivating Building Blocks from Fungal Networks
The installation relies on mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, to bind agricultural byproducts into structural components. Instead of discarding crop waste, producers mix the organic material with mycelium cultures. The fungal network spreads through the waste, acting as a natural binding agent before the blocks are dried and stabilized.
According to Anomalia, each individual block utilizes 2.1 kilograms of crop waste while weighing roughly 1.5 kilograms. Material research and production firm MYCL, based in Bandung, Indonesia, collaborated on the project to develop 3D modular blocks known as MycoBlox alongside square BIBO panels. Testing cited by Anomalia demonstrates that these mycelium-based components possess a compressive capacity of up to 1.5 tons.
A Breathable, Cross-Border Architectural Facade
Unlike standard industrial walls designed to completely seal a structure, the Seoul installation features a porous structure that lets air and light pass through. The uneven surface invites tactile interaction, functioning as an open divider between visitors and the surrounding environment rather than a solid barrier.
The project brought together international expertise across three countries. Anomalia handled the design in Mumbai, MYCL cultivated and produced the materials in Bandung, and the finished components were transported for assembly in South Korea. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) supported the collaborative effort.
Environmental Impact and Future Prospects
Proponents position mycelium architecture as a low-energy alternative to conventional manufacturing, which typically relies on high-heat industrial processes. MYCL notes that these materials are carbon negative and fully biodegradable, designed to safely return to the earth at the end of their operational lifecycle. By substituting cultivated fungal networks for manufactured bricks, projects like “Walls of Public Life” point toward a shift in how urban designers source building materials.
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