PJ Dick Innovation Fund Project Grant: MycoRubble: Regenerative Biomatter

MycoRubble: Regenerative Biomatter
Dana Cupkova, Professor, Carnegie Mellon Architecture

MycoRubble explores the reuse of construction waste in architecture through mycelial growth and bioremediation, combining construction debris with mycelium-inoculated substrates, including invasive plant species, to develop mycelium-based composites (MBCs) with improved compressive strength. The approach advances hyper-local resilience by connecting circular material practices with ecological restoration, addressing environmental toxicity, and expanding access to healthy building materials through non-extractive methods.

By combining local invasive plant species, such as Japanese knotweed, with mycelial growth, MycoRubble explores the transformation of construction rubble into structurally viable architectural components that embrace the aesthetics of bio-spolia. Envisioned for adaptive reconstruction, these components connect material reuse with ecological restoration, supporting architectural vibrancy that contributes to living ecosystems. The project investigates mycelium’s potential to remediate contaminants and stabilize rubble while evaluating the structural and environmental performance of varied mycelium-based composite (MBC) aggregates shaped in lightweight, reusable formwork. By integrating bioremediation with material experimentation, MycoRubble explores how regenerative material practices can mitigate the environmental harm of extractive practices and construction waste. This approach positions architecture as an active agent of ecological and communal stewardship. It advances material circularity, seeks to reduce embodied energy in construction, and supports locally grounded, regenerative labor practices. By fostering co-authorship between human and non-human systems, the project connects material production with the care and regenerative renewal of place.