My.Ceiling

My.Ceiling  - Modular lightweight construction system for ceiling structures made from densified mycelium shells

Although timber construction is already making a significant contribution to the transition in the construction sector, it is not sufficient on its own to meet the required volumes as the only renewable raw material. Alternative and complementary bio-based building materials and processes are therefore necessary. Mycelium, the root system of fungi, has mainly been used for non-load-bearing applications, such as acoustic elements and partition walls, due to its low structural load-bearing capacity. However, new research is showing promising results regarding the structural reinforcement of the material through wooden grids and compaction. Hot pressing and fiber injection molding can be used for this purpose. These new materials require industrially scalable processes that can produce components cost-effectively in large quantities with low material consumption. This would make a significant contribution to system construction. The My.Ceiling project aims to develop a modular, lightweight construction system for ceilings made from densified mycelium shells. This will result in the first load-bearing mycelium components developed using the structural design and compaction techniques devised within the project. The project partners' expertise in reinforcing materials with additively manufactured wood lattices and compaction processes will be utilized. The mycelium composite can be processed using various manufacturing methods and densities to impart distinct properties. This allows us to adjust the mycelium to meet the specific mechanical requirements of the intended application. For the planned joint research project, a team was created that combines the necessary expertise in material formulation, digital design, manufacturing technologies, process engineering, and component characterization from KIT, the University of Kassel, and industry partners.