Imagine a future where buildings aren’t just constructed—they’re grown, alive, and in harmony with nature. Sounds like science fiction? Think again. Yong Ju Lee Architecture is turning this vision into reality with the Mycelial Hut, a groundbreaking pavilion in Seoul that’s redefining sustainable design. But here’s where it gets controversial: could fungi—specifically mycelium, the root-like network of mushrooms—replace concrete and steel as the building blocks of our cities? Yong Ju Lee is betting on it, and the results are nothing short of revolutionary.
Designed by Yong Ju Lee Architecture (https://www.designboom.com/tag/yong-ju-lee/), the Mycelial Hut is more than just an experimental structure—it’s a living, breathing proof of concept. This pavilion explores the untapped potential of mycelium, a dense fungal network that binds and regenerates organic matter, as a large-scale building material (https://www.designboom.com/tag/materials/). By merging robotic 3D printing (https://www.designboom.com/tag/3d-printing/) with biological growth, the project challenges traditional construction methods. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about sustainability—it’s about reimagining architecture as a living, evolving process.
Structurally, the pavilion is a masterpiece of hybrid design. A wooden frame (https://www.designboom.com/tag/wood-and-timber-architecture/) provides stability, while mycelium panels form its organic skin. Each panel was cultivated in a custom 3D-printed mold, shaped by robotic arms and filled with a carefully selected substrate. Before construction, the team rigorously tested various mycelium mixtures, evaluating growth rates, density, and structural integrity. The result? A structure that grows, breathes, and eventually decomposes—just like nature intended.
Images courtesy of Yong Ju Lee Architecture
In an era where construction accounts for a staggering portion of global carbon emissions, the Mycelial Hut isn’t just a design—it’s a manifesto. For decades, concrete and steel have symbolized progress, but their environmental toll is unsustainable. Yong Ju Lee Architecture, based in Seoul and New York (http://www.yongjulee.com/), dares to ask: What if buildings were biodegradable, recyclable, and regenerative? Developed in collaboration with the Robotic Fabrication Studio (RFS) at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, this pavilion embodies a bold vision of bio-integrated architecture—one that grows organically from its environment.
Installed on the open landscape of SeoulTech’s campus, the Mycelial Hut makes eco-friendly design tangible. It invites visitors to envision a future where buildings aren’t manufactured but cultivated, alive, and deeply intertwined with the ecosystems around them. But here’s the bold question: Are we ready to embrace a future where our homes are grown, not built? And if so, what does this mean for the construction industry, the environment, and our relationship with the natural world?
Designed by Yong Ju Lee Architecture and developed in collaboration with the Robotic Fabrication Studio
This isn’t just architecture—it’s a movement. The Mycelial Hut challenges us to rethink the very foundations of design. So, what do you think? Is mycelium the future of sustainable building, or is this just a passing experiment? Let’s spark the debate—share your thoughts in the comments below!
