1 | MYC-BLOCKS: The principle
IDEA
To which flow does the idea belong? Building materials, wastescapes
To which challenge does the idea belong?
Environmental impact of existing building materials (
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The projected increase of population in the AMA will cause an increase in building demand. Although the materials that are currently used for construction are strong and durable, they are not without disadvantages. Specifically, they have a large negative impact on the environment (Circle Economy, 2015). The Dutch construction is an important economic sector, but also one of the largest consumers of resources and energy. Smarter and more efficient use of resources is crucial in order to manage scarcity and maintain prosperity within the limits of the planet (Circle Economy, 2015). If the demand for construction materials is to be met sustainably in the future, there is a need for materials that are renewable and have a lower embodied energy. Therefore, we propose a construction material made out of plant fibers and fungi as an alternative. This material is a biocomposite that is self-growing, renewable and can be locally produced (Ecovative, 2018; Klarenbeek, 2018; The Living, 2018). The biocomposite is produced as follows: plant fibers are harvested, they are processed (cut and sterilized, no chemical treatment), then they are collected in molds and fungi is grown around them as the ‘glue’. This is then baked to strengthen the bonds between materials and kill the organism, creating a strong biocomposite. For the plant fiber we propose the plant fiber phragmites
australis (reed) because it is suitable to the local climate, has a high yield, does not need fertilizers or chemicals to grow in wetlands and has low labor and machine costs (Smit et al, 2012). For the fungi, only the vegetative part of a fungi (mycelium) is needed to act as the binding for the biocomposite. Dried mycelium forms a strong, organic material that is water-resistant to a certain point, fireresistant and mold-resistant (Ecovative, 2018). It can be transformed into various applications as a construction material, but we focus on using it as an insulation material. The transportation of building materials represents 20% of all the goods transportation over the roads in the Netherlands (Circle Economy, 2015). This heavy transportation contributes significantly to CO2 emissions, particulate emissions and soil acidification. Therefore, we propose that the biocomposite is grown and produced locally (within the AMA), on agricultural land that has a high water table and is at risk of salinization, and along waterways that are experiencing eutrophication due to agricultural run-off. These aspects run the risk of turning these landscapes into agricultural wastescapes, however by being converted into 0-maintenaince wetlands to grow reed, they remain productive will be able to fulfil the increasing demand for building materials for the coming decades.
RE PAiR
Ankita Singhvi | 4283600, Lou Krabshuis | 4018125
Q4 2017-2018 | AR0071 Geo-design for a Circular Economy in Urban Regions 02/05/2018 RE PAiR This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 688920