Flight into
Shadow
Institute of Building Construction, Building Technology and Design, IBK, University of Stuttgart
HFT Stuttgart Interior Architecture
Deggendorf Institute of Technology
There is a being that has outlasted forests, cities, and civilizations – an architect of renewal, ancient, constantly evolving and adapting. Mycelium, the silent connector of life beneath our feet, weaves together ecosystems and absorbs toxins. We cannot see it, we cannot smell it, we do not perceive it – and yet it is there, serving as the foundation for a new way of building.
“Flight into Shadow” identifies mycelium not merely as a natural building material, but as a mediator between nature and the built environment. Like floating clouds or murmuring swarms, these living structures form a sculptural canopy of shade – an organic response to the overheating of cities. Mycelium-based materials have inherently low thermal conductivity and thermal storage capacities. When applied to urban areas they can reduce the amount of heat absorbed during the day and diminish the subsequent re-radiation of heat at night. Unlike timber, mycelium grows within days. Its white, fungal skin naturally reflects sunlight, creating high albedo values. The structure is fabricated by solidifying textiles with a thin-film mycelium paste and allowing it to grow in a dedicated lab environment. Technology, design, and nature are interwoven, inviting us to discover surprising connections. Mycelium embodies a form of intelligence that we are only beginning to understand – a living network that learns, adapts, and connects, just as we exemplify this year in the Salone Verde. Technology, design, and nature call on us to listen closely to the wisdom that has always grown silently beneath our feet.
“Flight into Shadow” identifies mycelium not merely as a natural building material, but as a mediator between nature and the built environment. Like floating clouds or murmuring swarms, these living structures form a sculptural canopy of shade – an organic response to the overheating of cities. Mycelium-based materials have inherently low thermal conductivity and thermal storage capacities. When applied to urban areas they can reduce the amount of heat absorbed during the day and diminish the subsequent re-radiation of heat at night. Unlike timber, mycelium grows within days. Its white, fungal skin naturally reflects sunlight, creating high albedo values. The structure is fabricated by solidifying textiles with a thin-film mycelium paste and allowing it to grow in a dedicated lab environment. Technology, design, and nature are interwoven, inviting us to discover surprising connections. Mycelium embodies a form of intelligence that we are only beginning to understand – a living network that learns, adapts, and connects, just as we exemplify this year in the Salone Verde. Technology, design, and nature call on us to listen closely to the wisdom that has always grown silently beneath our feet.