Aléa’s research project Back to dirt proposes growing objects from waste and mycelium in soil.
Myco-fabrication utilizes the growth of mycelium, the root structure of fungi, to create materials from organic waste. Back to dirt expands on this process by using local soil as a mold to grow objects. This unique process allows to bypass existing steps and conditions of myco-fabrication, such as sterilization, additional energy and plastic molds, while exploring the mycelia’s capacity to regenerate soils and reintroduce biodiversity.

The Boisbuchet Residency Award 2021 gave Miriam Josi and Stella Lee Prowse the opportunity to bring the lab outdoors and apply their bio-inclusive process at a larger scale. It was during their residency at Domaine de Boisbuchet where they grew the earliest full-scale proof of concept of their fabrication method, the first underground myco-fabricated chair.

Project supported by FAIRE, a research and experimentation program launched by the Pavillon de l’Arsenal with the support of the City of Paris, the Caisse des dépôts, EDF and MINI and ENOWE-Artagon