Image: Julio Diarte
Research project The Material Practices Lab at the Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University investigates the intersection of biobased materials, digital fabrication, and architectural design. Our research focuses on how sustainable materials — such as cellulose, biochar, and mycelium — can be transformed through advanced manufacturing processes like 3D printing to create innovative and sustainable building components and prototypes.
The Material Practices Lab objective is to investigate sustainable construction methods by merging natural resources with digital-based design and fabrication methods. We aim to advance the use of these materials in architecture by focusing on biobased alternatives like wood fibers, biochar, and mycelium. The expected outcome includes the development of circular manufacturing techniques, new knowledge about the structural and environmental properties of these materials, and full-scale 3D-printed building components that can contribute to reducing the construction industry's carbon footprint.
Our current reliance on traditional materials in the building sector presents a critical challenge to reaching climate targets. The Material Practices Lab directly addresses this by asking a crucial question: How can we shift the architectural paradigm toward sustainable materials and circular processes? Our research provides new pathways by developing viable, scalable alternatives rooted in renewable, biobased materials, specifically exploring a range of options from biochar-mycelium to biomass-reinforced cement composites.
Our core method is the interdisciplinary investigation of biobased materials and digital fabrication across multiple material systems.
One major research thread focuses on biochar + wood fiber + mycelium composites. Here, we explore mycelium as a lightweight binder and biochar and wood fibers as additive. This combination is promising, as biochar's water retention can aid mycelium growth and shape retention, but their combined behavior is largely unexplored. This work involves molecular biology studies to understand growth, microbial dynamics, and optimal material formulation.
A second critical thread, in collaboration with external partners, focuses on reducing the environmental impact of cement 3D-printing. This involves incorporating upcycled biomass as reinforcement to reduce the cement content in 3D printed structures.
Parallel architectural research focuses on the design performance and practical application of these composites. We are developing printable pastes and testing digital design and fabrication workflows for 3D printing. This involves monitoring prototypes using integrated sensing systems to evaluate their structural performance, lifecycle, and aesthetic qualities. Expected results include reproducible protocols, optimized fabrication methods, and initial performance assessments of composite prototypes. Our outcomes aim to bridge material systems and architectural design, allowing industry partners and construction professionals to explore novel applications for sustainable building.
