Robotic wickering: Fiber-mycelium hybrid modular system

The pressing environmental challenges place significant constraints on resources, triggering the search for efficiency and performance characteristics in sustainable solutions. Mycelium-based composites (MBC) as biodegradable products and their diverse applications have the potential to replace conventional materials. Despite MBCs advantages, they remain not fully exploited in the construction sector due to their limited structural capabilities. This research focuses on improving the structural performance of MBC by integrating Mycelium and Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (NFRP) as a material-efficient hybrid system. For reinforcement, a 2D wicker-lattice system is designed through custom robotic additive manufacturing processes guiding mycelium’s growth, improving its mechanical behavior, and eliminating the need for special formwork. A computationally optimized workflow is used to inform material distribution, achieving efficient geometrical and structural performance. A slab panel is realized, showcasing the potential of this hybrid building system and expanding the use of bio-based composite materials in modular architecture applications.