The Material That Shouldn’t Grow — But Does
By Arindam Bose
(Curious observer of where biology, architecture, and sustainability collide)
Every Tuesday, when I sit down to write about technology in real estate, I try to convince myself:
“This week, Arindam… choose something simple. One material. One idea. One clean line.”
And every Tuesday, without fail,
that promise dies.
Because construction is no longer an industry.
It is a collision zone.
- Where civil engineering meets microbiology.
- Where architecture meets regenerative ecosystems.
- Where climate policy leans on fungal genetics.
- Where things grown in dark labs suddenly show up at construction sites.
Last week, it was graphene.
Before that, aerogels.
Before that, self-healing concrete.
This week, I thought I was being sensible.
I picked something soft. Organic. Straightforward. Earthly.
Mycelium.
Just fungus.
How complicated could fungus be?
But like always,
within minutes, I fell into the rabbit hole.
Because mycelium is not a material.
Mycelium is a biological algorithm.
A self-assembling, self-repairing, carbon-negative architecture engine.
- It grows itself.
- It strengthens itself.
- It binds without chemicals.
- It reforms under stress.
- It decomposes at the end of its life without polluting anything.
It feels like something that should belong in a sci-fi bio-lab, not on a construction drawing sheet.
And yet…
It is quietly, experimentally, inevitably entering construction sites across the world.
This is the story of mycelium —
the material that shouldn’t grow, but does…
and may redefine how India builds in the next decade.
MYCELIUM: THE BIO-MATERIAL THAT BUILDS ITSELF
When fed agricultural waste, it:
- digests it,
- binds it,
- forms a load-bearing matrix,
- and grows into any shape you put it in.
It is literally “grown construction.”
And the properties?
They don’t just challenge traditional materials. They embarrass them.
MECHANICAL STRENGTH RANGE
(Varies with strain, density, substrate, compaction & curing)
Compressive Strength:0.2 – 1.2 MPa (as insulation panel)
1.8 – 3.5 MPa (as structural composite)
up to 5.8 MPa (high-density engineered mycelium) *in optimised lab specimens
0.45 – 1.5 MPa
0.2 – 1.0 MPa
Is it as strong as concrete?
No.
The material doesn't seek to replace the high compressive strength of rebar concrete; it seeks to eliminate the need for concrete in every non-structural application—panels, insulation, and facades—where its low-carbon, high-performance properties are vastly superior. But for insulation, internal panels, façade composites, acoustic boards, partition walls, lightweight load distribution elements, and modular blocks —mycelium outperforms most synthetic alternatives.
THERMAL PERFORMANCE: COOLER BUILDINGS, LOWER AC BILLS
Mycelium’s microscopic air pockets give it thermal properties close to high-grade industrial insulators.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY (λ):
0.028 – 0.065 W/m·K
For context:
Mycelium sits right beside synthetic foams —
but is biodegradable, non-toxic, flame-resistant, and carbon-negative.
R-VALUE RANGE (per 25 mm):
R-0.9 to R-1.4
In Indian summers — where roof surfaces hit 60–68°C —mycelium panels could cut AC loads by 20–28%, depending on orientation and ventilation.
FIRE PERFORMANCE: A NATURAL FLAME SHIELD
Unlike synthetic foams that melt, drip, and release cyanide fumes, mycelium acts like a bio-ceramic when exposed to heat.
FIRE RATINGS
- UL 94 V-0 achievable with denser composites *in tested prototypes and commercial panels, not all mycelium products by default.
- Self-extinguishing
- Char formation prevents flame spread
- Smoke toxicity: near zero
- No microplastic release
This alone makes it a candidate for:
- Metro stations
- Schools
- Hospitals
- High-density residential
- Airports
- Interior panels in public spaces
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE: BUILDINGS THAT SOUND QUIETER
Mycelium’s fibrous mesh traps sound with surprising efficiency.
ACOUSTIC ABSORPTION (NRC):
0.45 – 0.85 (depending on density & thickness)
Comparable to:
- Mineral wool
- PET acoustic boards
- Industrial felt panels
Use cases:
- Studios
- Theatres
- Co-working
- Airports
- Hotel corridors
- High-traffic commercial interiors
MOISTURE, FUNGUS & INDIAN CLIMATE: THE REALITY CHECK
India brings extreme humidity. So, this part matters.
WATER ABSORPTION:
Untreated mycelium can absorb 15–32% moisture.
But compression + resin-free bio-sealing reduces this to 8–12%.
ANTI-FUNGAL BEHAVIOUR:
Once cured, mycelium becomes inert —
it does not continue to grow, and does not feed mould.
IDEAL FOR INDIA:
Because India has:
- abundant agri-waste
- high humidity for rapid growth
- warm temperatures that reduce energy use
- cropping cycles that ensure 24×7 substrate supply
Mycelium thrives here biologically and economically.
EMBODIED CARBON: WHERE MYCELIUM DESTROYS THE COMPETITION *on a kg‑for‑kg basis
Concrete, steel, and foam boards carry huge carbon footprints.
Mycelium…
does the opposite.
EMBODIED CARBON:
–0.7 to –1.4 kg CO₂ per kg (Yes, negative.)
Because:
- It grows by capturing CO₂
- It uses agri-waste
- It replaces petroleum foams
- It biodegrades cleanly
This is one of the only building materials that removes carbon while being manufactured.
WHERE MYCELIUM IS ALREADY BEING USED
1. BIOHM (UK) — Mycelium Structural Panels 
- 200% stronger than timber insulation
- 35% better thermal resistance
- Zero VOCs
2. The Growing Pavilion (Netherlands)
A building made almost entirely from biomaterials — mycelium panels, bio-resins, timber.
Proved scalability and weather resistance.
3. Ecovative Design (USA) — MycoBoard & MycoFoam 
- Class-A fire rating
- High acoustic damping
- Commercial interior panels
4. DARPA-funded projects
Self-healing, self-growing structures
Bio-engineered fungal composites
5. Hy-Fi Tower (New York, MoMA PS1)
- 10,000 mycelium bricks
- Zero synthetic adhesives
- Temporary architecture proof-of-concept
6. MycoTree (South Korea)
A branching, compression-optimized structure showing that design can overcome material limitations.
The material is already real —
just waiting for mass-scale adoption.
COST — THE PART NOBODY EXPECTS
Right now:
- Mycelium insulation: ₹950–₹1,400/m² (India) *emerging vendor quotes
- PU foam insulation: ₹1,000–₹1,600/m²
- Rockwool: ₹1,400–₹2,500/m²
Mycelium is already price-competitive,
and mass-scale production can push costs down 40–60% within 5 years.
THE INDIAN OPPORTUNITY: A NEW INDUSTRY WAITING TO BE BORN
If India builds a mycelium industry today, it immediately gains:
1. A use-case for 350+ million tons of annual agri-waste
We burn crores of rupees of biomass every winter.
Mycelium turns it into gold.
2. A new manufacturing vertical
Panels, bricks, façade sheets, insulation boards, acoustic tiles.
3. Rural bio-fabrication clusters
Low energy, low capex, high employment.
4. A global export story
EU and Japan are already drafting bio-based mandates.
5. PLI-scale potential
This is exactly the kind of sunrise industry India wants. Even if mycelium captured just 5% of India’s natural‑fibre insulation market this decade, that’s already a multi‑hundred‑crore industry.
This is not a material.
This is a new economy.
IGBC CREDITS — WHERE MYCELIUM WINS IMMEDIATELY
For a typical IGBC‑rated project, mycelium panels could contribute to credits such as
IGBC Green Homes, Green Factory, Green New Buildings
Materials & Resources
- MR Credit: Recycled Content
- MR Credit: Rapidly Renewable Materials
- MR Credit: Regional Materials
- MR Credit: Waste Reduction
Energy & Atmosphere
- EA Credit: Superior Envelope Performance
- EA Credit: Thermal Comfort
Indoor Environmental Quality
- IEQ Credit: Low VOC
- IEQ Credit: Acoustic Comfort
*Exact applicability depends on the project rating system version and how the design team documents performance and LCAs
CONCLUSION — WE ARE STANDING AT THE EDGE OF A BIOLOGICAL REVOLUTION
Mycelium is not just a material.
It is not just insulation.
It is not just an eco-friendly substitute.
Mycelium is a living bridge.
- A bridge between:
- agriculture and architecture
- biology and buildings
- waste and wealth
- climate targets and construction realities
The more I study it, the more I believe:
Mycelium will become one of the defining construction materials of the next decade — not because it is futuristic, but because it quietly solves problems the world can no longer ignore.
This was my Technology Tuesday rabbit hole.
Next week?
I’ll make myself the same promise:
“Keep it simple, Arindam.”
And once again,
I know I’ll fail.
Beautifully.
— Arindam Bose
*All performance ranges are indicative, based on published lab studies and early commercial data; real values depend heavily on strain, substrate, density, and processing.
A Challenge for You — The Reader
If mycelium truly has the power to grow itself into the buildings of the future…
What breakthrough must happen first for it to scale in India?
- A national bio fabrication mission?
- A PLI scheme for mycelium composites?
- A startup taking the risk?
- A fungal strain engineered for faster growth?
- A real estate giant committing to bio-based construction?
Comment your answer —
and let’s see where the industry is ready to grow next.
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