Henning Larsen is participating in this year’s Milan Design Week with a showcase of the potential for mycelium and other alternative biogenic building materials to support a new aesthetics of design for architects, framed within the context of a circular economy.

The 'Growing Matter(s)' pavilion is a collaboration between the firm and Politecnico di Milano. Designed to evolve in form over time, the pavilion comprises 80 individual spheres made from growths of different organic substrates (incl. hemp, flour, and sugars) that were inculcated by two primary (Pleurotus Eryngii and Pleurotus Ostreatus) strains. 

The research team says this results in dynamic new shapes and textures that defy the rigid "uniformity" offered by more traditional materials such as concrete and steel. 

Each element is biodegradable and can be demounted for later use in a new structure, including its scaffold support. The pavilion covers roughly 259 square feet in total and will remain on view at Via Bonardi 9 until April 20th.

Henning Larsen has explored the potential for mycelium and other alternative building materials as part of a sustainable investment in new projects that was on display previously in the 2023 traveling exhibition Changing our Footprint.

The pavilion also follows last fall's release of the firm's proprietary Open Detail biomaterials database in collaboration with the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, Ramboll, Speckle, and Chevrant.

We highlighted some of the architect-designed furniture on view at his year's Salone del Mobile yesterday. Google is also presenting an art installation in Garage 21. The 63rd Salone del Mobile exhibition runs until Sunday, April 13th.