Mycelium-Based Composites for Interior Architecture: Digital Fabrication of Acoustic Ceiling Components

TL;DR

This paper explores using mycelium-based materials in digital fabrication to create sustainable acoustic ceiling components for interior design.

Contribution

The study introduces a parametric design approach for mycelium-based components and evaluates their acoustic performance in interior architecture.

Findings

Mycelium-based prototypes reduced reverberation time compared to untreated conditions, especially in the speech frequency range.

Acoustic performance of mycelium components approached that of conventional acoustic panels.

Digital fabrication enabled customization and exploration of material-specific design for mycelium-based components.

Abstract

This study examines the integration of digital fabrication technologies into the design and production of mycelium-based components, addressing the growing demand for sustainable and innovative interior design solutions. Using a parametric design approach, modular and customized suspended ceiling elements were developed for a specific interior setting to explore a material-specific design approach for mycelium-based components. Three-dimensional printing was employed to produce molds, which were subsequently tested with plaster, silicone, and mycelium across three different scales. Experimental observations focused on the overall form, surface details, growth behavior and dimensional accuracy, systematically capturing volumetric deviations arising from the living nature of the material. In parallel, acoustic performance was evaluated through simulations using the Sabine method. The untreated condition demonstrated the longest reverberation times, whereas conventional panels achieved reductions consistent with typical comfort standards. Prototypes produced with mycelium yielded measurable decreases in reverberation time compared to the untreated condition, particularly within the speech frequency range, and approached the performance of standard acoustic panels. These findings suggest that mycelium-based components, when further optimized in terms of density and geometry, hold the potential to contribute both aesthetic and acoustic value within sustainable interior environments.

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