Mycelium Wall Systems: Harnessing Adaptive Fabrication with Biocomposites in Buildings

Abstract

Wall assembly prototyping is a strategy that allows for technical performance analysis of construction materials to investigate the function of a building façade and its integrated components. Departing from the complexity of a given building, façades must constantly mediate evolving human needs for comfort and environmental performance. However, traditional construction strategies to address these complex, changing needs, such as multiple wall layers with fluid-wall and fluid-solid interfaces are practically and environmentally inefficient. Mycelium biocomposites can combine effective performance properties for wall systems with reduced layers while being biodegradable. This thesis introduces a novel mycelium biocomposite assembly integrated in a naturally prefabricated wall panel with reduced material layers compared to a typical system. Construction prototyping is employed through nine digitally modelled iterations, supported by three physical experiments and thermal simulations. The key impact of this research is in introducing a new framework for utilizing construction prototyping to efficiently accommodate the growth and performance requirements of mycelium biocomposites within a prefabricated wall assembly while applying hands-on procedures in façade engineering and design.