How many times have you heard about innovative green building? This time, however, it is different. At National Technical Library in Prague something truly unique happened: an exhibition revealed how mushrooms could become the building material of the future. I'm not talking about the classic forest mushrooms, but about mycelium: that “invisible” network (and intelligent) of filaments that grow underground and that, if properly processed, can be transformed into an insulating, resistant and completely natural material. A revolution that starts from nature to change the world of construction.
Green building, a new way of building houses
In the movie Avatar, the inhabitants of Pandora lived in perfect harmony with nature: well, we're more or less there. SAMOROST is doing something incredible: using mycelium to create sustainable building materials. We already talked about it some time ago, at the beginning of the project. Now we can touch this revolution with our own hands: and when I say “touch”, I mean it literally. No “Do not touch” signs, in Prague they could explore everything with their hands. There was actually a house made of mushrooms in the center of the exhibition.
I was very struck by the stories of those who found themselves in front of these materials: they say that as soon as you entered the exhibition, you could smell the forest. A mix of wood and mushrooms that makes you understand immediately that you are in front of something completely natural. It is as if the forest had moved to the city, but in a hi-tech version. As he explains Katerina Sysova, curator of the event: “The micocomposite works as a thermal and acoustic insulator, but it can also be used as an interior covering. It has an interesting design that illuminates and enlivens the entire interior.”
Technology that grows by itself
The beauty of this green building is that it uses a natural process. The mycelium grows by itself, consuming waste that would otherwise be thrown away. It's a bit like having an army of small ecological workers who work 24/7 to build the material.
“The SAMOROST project is another step in our efforts to innovate the construction industry,” explains Monika Lausmanova, vice president of the board of directors of CS Building Savings Bank Burinka.
Marcel Ladka, director of the cabinet of the Minister of the Environment, has an idea that makes me smile: “Maybe one day we will build a building like this in our garden or spend a weekend there. I think it would definitely be worth it.” And he's right. Imagine: houses that not only do not harm the environment, but help it by recycling waste materials. It's as if nature were saying to us: "Hey, I'll give you a hand to clean up this mess."
I like to think that in a few years, when someone asks us “what material is your house made of?”, we will be able to proudly answer: “It grew on its own, thanks to mushrooms.” And it won’t seem strange at all.
