I had the opportunity to collaborate with the construction and development company Skanska. Skanska's ambitious goal is to construct the new Mercury Building in Holešovice (Prague) by reusing suitable materials from the existing structure, including up to 300 tons of gypsum.

For my diploma project at CTU in Prague, I conducted research on drywall-based mycocomposite materials using Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) fungus. The key advantage of mycocomposites lies in their ability to upcycle locally sourced waste materials.

The aim of the project was to train Ganoderma to decompose construction waste and transform drywall debris into a fully circular material, reducing waste and returning gypsum back into the material cycle as a newly manufactured interior product.

Using gypsum collected by Skanska, I designed and produced acoustic panels and acoustic paintings intended for the interior office spaces of the Mercury Building, exploring a cradle-to-cradle approach to material reuse.

WAVY

The acoustic paintings consist of three organically shaped panels with a natural surface, allowing the mycelium to grow into a velvety, mushroom-like skin. Thanks to the sound-absorbing properties of the mycelium–gypsum composite and the unique organic design, the panels reduce noise and echoes, improving speech intelligibility and the overall acoustic quality of offices and other interior spaces.

The project was developed in collaboration with the MYMO Association, which focuses on experimenting with mycelium applications in architectural interior design. With this project, I won the Reborn Design eco-design competition, which challenges students to propose sustainable and circular design solutions.

In addition, I explored colouring the drywall mycocomposite using natural pigments. Based on material research and testing, I selected eco-friendly milk casein paints made entirely from natural ingredients, without the use of synthetic chemicals. The paints consist of milk casein protein, lime, clay, chalk, and natural pigments, fully aligning with the principles of biodegradability and material sustainability.