At PLP Labs, we’ve spent the last two and a half years immersed in the potential of mycelium as a material for architecture. Our latest publication charts this journey – from the first block-shaped experiments to 3D-printed prototypes developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. This project is inspired by the next era in human history: Symbiocene (Greek; companionship) in which humans and nature actively collaborate to build a better world.

Working out of a reimagined small space in our London headquarters, we cultivated and tested hundreds of mycelium samples, experimenting with form, fabrication and performance. We showcased our modular wood-and-mycelium system at Clerkenwell Design Week, the London Design Festival, and Chelsea Flower Show, sharing our work with both design professionals and the public.

This project has grown as a network – connecting us with mushroom growers, bio-designers, AI researchers and material scientists. The report is a milestone, not a conclusion. It’s an invitation to explore new pathways for low-carbon, regenerative design.

Symbiocene Architecture is a resource for those exploring regenerative design and a provocation for what might come next. It invites further research, experimentation and dialogue around alternative materials and new architectural futures.