# Mushroom Bricks Mycroform Molds Shape Fungi-Based Building Material into Blocks By Katie Cordrey | Published 2011-07-25 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fungi-based-building-material References: [insteading](http://insteading.com/2011/05/24/like-mushrooms-you-could-grow-your-own-house/) & [terreform.org](http://www.terreform.org/projects_habitat_mycoform.html) If the idea takes off, fungi-based building material may help alleviate the often difficult to recycle toxic and hazardous byproducts of today's construction industry while providing an abundant supply of ready architectural components. Grow-your-own construction materials is just one of many ideas being explored by Brooklyn-based Planetary ONE. Planetary ONE uses a form to carefully control, contain and shape [fungal mycelia](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-muse) and varying types of organic substrates into structurally viable building blocks. The process is non-polluting, low-tech and low-energy, making fungi-based building material a practical solution for architectural applications. **Implications** - With the world population increasing at an exponential rate, biologically-centered construction technologies like fungi-based architectural components hold the potential for across-the-spectrum smart self-sufficiency. Easy-to-obtain [renewable building materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cob-brick) may well be a way to provide underserved and remote populations with affordable housing, but even more noteworthy are the possibilities for greening dense urban areas with organic bio-construction. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 13% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Fungi-based Building Material:** The use of fungi as a building material presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for sustainable construction. - **Grow-your-own Construction Materials:** The concept of growing construction materials offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for self-sufficiency in architectural applications. - **Renewable Building Materials:** The development of renewable building materials opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for affordable housing and eco-friendly urban development. ### Where This Applies - **Construction:** The construction industry can explore the use of fungi-based building materials to create sustainable and environmentally friendly structures. - **Architecture:** Architects can embrace the concept of grow-your-own construction materials to design innovative and self-sufficient buildings. - **Urban Development:** Urban development initiatives can leverage renewable building materials to transform dense urban areas into green and eco-friendly spaces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D-Printed Mycelium Columns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blast-studio.md) - [Sustainable Design Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycoworks-reishi.md) - [Mycelium-Growing 3D-Printed Scaffolds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-scaffold.md) - [Mycelium Sustainable Bright Partitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veggro-collection.md) - [Fungal Foam Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mattress-foam.md) - [Mushroom-Constructed Room Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mush-room.md) - [Upcycled Mycelium Acoustic Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foresta-system.md) - [Sustainable Acoustic Tiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-wall.md) - [Mycelium-Clad Pavilion Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/intelligent-garden-and-building.md)