Overview
The Myco Table is a prototype coffee table design that tests the application of mycelium composites in furniture design.
Being tasked with designing a coffee table under the post-modern style, a deconstructivist approach was taken when considering materials. Deconstructing and decomposing were the main ideas that lead to the specification of mycelium composite material.
Design Process
Being a relatively new approach in furniture design, a lot of diagraming and planning had to be carried out in the beginning of the project. Topics like, "where will the mushrooms grow?", "how will they connect to the table?", "how do we keep the environment as sterile as possible for as long as possible?", were all questions that had to be answered in order to limit material waste.
Wood & Myco Connection
Final grow environment diagram
Multi-Stage grow approach
Design Finalization
This project forced a lot of back and forth between design and fabrication, leading to a prototype that influenced the final drawings rather than the other way around.
Building the Table
A challenge of this process was working with a living material. Early experimentation led to a lot of non-viable specimen. However, with weeks of testing, molding, growing, and finishing techniques were finalized.
Heat forming acrylic mold
Adherence testing
Fabricated Growing Environment
Final mold
Joint testing
Growing & Baking
From packing the mold to pulling the semi-dry volume out of the oven, the process took 9 days. Hemp fibers are used as a substrate that the mycelium is able to grow through to form the adhesive lattice. These images show this process taking place.
Growing 1
Growing 2
Growing 3
Growing 4
Baking
Fabrication & Finishing
Finish Testing
Final Scorched Volume
Miter Joint
Table + Myco Connection
A nice knot
Connected Table
Connected Table
Final Table
Back in Nature
Myco Table
Myco Material
Back in Nature
Plane v. Volume
Presentation Poster
