Mycelium-Based Composites: Surveying Their Acceptance by Professional Architects

cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0003-0076-3190
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcidbe4662f0-4144-45b2-96f7-33f2859e6d5e
dc.abstract.enMycelium-based composites (MBCs) are biomaterials with scientifically proven potential to improve sustainability in construction. Although mycelium-based products are not entirely new, their use in engineering presents challenges due to the inherent properties of this fungal material. This study investigated professional architects’ and interior designers’ perceptions of MBCs, focusing on familiarity, aesthetic appeal, and willingness to use. The first phase of the survey explored respondents’ views on material-related ecological design principles. In the second phase, respondents evaluated ten small architectural objects crafted from MBCs, focusing on form, detail, and visual appeal. The last phase of the survey measured their interest in using mycelium in their design work. The results revealed that MBCs were relatively unknown among the surveyed professionals; only every second respondent knew this material. Despite this, 90% found MBCs visually appealing after seeing the examples. Interestingly, the natural, unprocessed appearance of the material was assessed as less aesthetically pleasing, with thermal treatment improving its perceived value. Architects were more receptive to using MBCs in their professional projects for customers than for personal use. This observation points to a ‘double standard’: professional architects are more open to using MBCs in projects not intended for their own use.
dc.affiliationWydział Leśny i Technologii Drewna
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Obrabiarek i Podstaw Konstrukcji Maszyn
dc.contributor.authorLewandowska, Anna
dc.contributor.authorBonenberg, Agata
dc.contributor.authorSydor, Maciej
dc.date.access2025-07-18
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-18T11:08:28Z
dc.date.available2025-07-18T11:08:28Z
dc.date.copyright2024-05-30
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are biomaterials with scientifically proven potential to improve sustainability in construction. Although mycelium-based products are not entirely new, their use in engineering presents challenges due to the inherent properties of this fungal material. This study investigated professional architects’ and interior designers’ perceptions of MBCs, focusing on familiarity, aesthetic appeal, and willingness to use. The first phase of the survey explored respondents’ views on material-related ecological design principles. In the second phase, respondents evaluated ten small architectural objects crafted from MBCs, focusing on form, detail, and visual appeal. The last phase of the survey measured their interest in using mycelium in their design work. The results revealed that MBCs were relatively unknown among the surveyed professionals; only every second respondent knew this material. Despite this, 90% found MBCs visually appealing after seeing the examples. Interestingly, the natural, unprocessed appearance of the material was assessed as less aesthetically pleasing, with thermal treatment improving its perceived value. Architects were more receptive to using MBCs in their professional projects for customers than for personal use. This observation points to a ‘double standard’: professional architects are more open to using MBCs in projects not intended for their own use.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if3,9
dc.description.number6
dc.description.points20
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume9
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/biomimetics9060333
dc.identifier.issn2313-7673
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/3899
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/6/333
dc.languageen
dc.relation.ispartofBiomimetics
dc.relation.pagesart. 333
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudsend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enfungi
dc.subject.enbiomaterials
dc.subject.enarchitect perception
dc.subject.enuser acceptance
dc.subject.enwillingness to adopt
dc.subject.enaesthetic preferences
dc.subject.ensurvey research
dc.subject.ensmall-scale prototypes
dc.titleMycelium-Based Composites: Surveying Their Acceptance by Professional Architects
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue6
oaire.citation.volume9