Architecture of Reforestation

Navn
Dilara Özlü
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Institut
Bygningskunst og Teknologi
Program
Computation in Architecture
År
2021

This project explores mycelium as a new building material and design of the fibrous woven scaffolds. With the proposed architecture, human-nature interaction is increased and the forests biodiversity is spatially designed for a healthier ecosystem.

Mycelium woven architecture: The image on the right is the first prototype which tests growth of mycelium in woven scaffolds.
Danish Nature Agency's Approach: With the guidelines published by the Danish Nature Agency, aim is to increase the biodiversity in the natural forests and also strengthen the human-nature relationship.
Using mycelium in mycoforestry: Mycelium is used in the industry in various different ways from interior design, furniture design to fashion and food industry and architecture. They also vary in scale and application. Mycelium is also used in mycoforestry to sustain the forest ecosystem (Paul Statement, Mycelium Running, Mycoforestry). The process starts with specifying the tree species that will be cut down. Once the trees are cut down and left on the earth, mycelium starts degrading the logs and returning the carbon and other nutrition back to the soil. This is very important step for the balance of the ecosystem and reforestation.
The site for proposed architecture is situated in Buresø. Referring to the regulation plans published by the Danish Nature Agency, each forest has different goals that will be accomplished during the biodiversity enrichment. Based on these goals, the approach with mushrooms will differ. In Slagnslunde, the initial aim is to rise the water levels of dried pounds and lakes while filtering the water. In Ganløse, because the soil in some parts of the forest is not high in quality, the aim is to enrich the soil. And last of all, in Uggeløse, because of a tree disease once happened in Buresø, the aim is to strengthen the root network system in-between plant species.

Each forest has different species, and while visitors walk along the paths from one forest to another, they will learn and experience different species. This path is named as "the didactic path". Here, they will not only learn the tree species, but they will learn about the history of the forest. The forest has a historical background which reaches to the Ice Age. There are historical rocks, 300 year old trees and ancient graveyards in the forest. While they experience the architecture through set of activities, they will learn about different mushrooms and their roles. They will experience the morphology of the mushrooms and its growth.

There is also learning through time. Because the material is a living organism and it can change in and across time, every time one come for a visit to the forest, they will see a different phase of the material. They will experience the material in early growth stage, when it is fruiting and falling apart and decomposing in the soil.

Learning for the forestry people will start with making the guiding sculptures. With the guiding sculptures, forestry people will learn the basics of weaving. The complexity of the weaving will increase gradually with every new architecture.

Didactic path
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In the deck design, mycelium architecture is placed along the two sides of the deck. The approach with mushrooms here is to filter the water and create a healthier water ecosystem while rising the water level.

The fishing deck is followed with the camping area. In camping area, the aim is to enrich the soil with decomposing mushrooms.

The camping area is followed with the hunting stands. The approach with the hunting stands is to strengthen the mycorrhizal relationships between plants and mushrooms.
Fishing deck
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Det Kongelige Akademi understøtter FN’s verdensmål

Siden 2017 har Det Kongelige Akademi arbejdet med FN’s verdensmål. Det afspejler sig i forskning, undervisning og afgangsprojekter. Dette projekt har forholdt sig til følgende FN-mål