Naturalness and atypicality of mycelium bio-composites as influencers of preference

The biodegradable and regenerative nature of mycelium bio-composites provide architecture a novel solution for achieving more responsible productions (SDG12) and circular innovation (SDG9). This paper identifies the need for integrated, holistic issues of mycelium bio-composites to be addressed before their high-level adoption in architectural construction, and reports on results from a series of mixed-method investigations. The dimensional stability and aesthetic irregularities of mycelium bio-composites provide opportunities and challenges to mycelium bio-composites’ market diffusion. Completed preliminary user studies indicate that these senso-aesthetic qualities could provide psycho-physiological affects which could support endeavours to increase well-being in places of work, study, and recovery (SDG3). The results indicate the roles emotions and perceptions play in consumer decisions, despite these factors often being disregarded by market diffusion research that focuses on logic and reason. Uptake for temporal, novel materials such as these requires the architectural industry to observe the full holistic potential of our materials and review our desire for permanence we’ve ingrained in practices and standards.