01 // Fungi Network

Type: Adaptive Reuse + Extension

Studio Advisor: Prof. Sarosh Anklesaria & Prof. Jonathan Kline

Location: Pittsburgh, USA // Scale: 110,000 sq.ft

Fungi Network is designed to target the inequities witnessed in Homewood community by addressing the themes of circularity, pedagogy, and biomaterials. The themes addresses the issues of disinvestment in the area that affects the area ecologically and socially. These inequities manifest as vacant houses, the lack of opportunity for the residents, and the perpetuation of the linear building material life cycle.

The proposal offers the solutions to these inequities. In conjunction with the local business, Construction Junction (C.J), the proposal will amplify their already established circular economy with the introduction of the biomaterial: Mycelium, and the materials that C.J does not process. Fungi Network includes the adaptive reuse of an existing structure along with the new extension elements that will house an institution to process the salvaged materials and biomaterials as well as a research facility to keep the practices up to the latest technologies and innovations.

The new facility will offer the residents of Homewood community the opportunity to receive training and jobs that will support the transition into a world of decarbonized materials. Despite the barriers that community faces, they have established places of social gathering and cultural significance. The proposal plans to amplify the community by elevating the artists in the community with artists’ spaces along the platform that connect the existing spaces. Fungi Network aims to provide support for a just transition towards the decarbonization of materials.

Duration:14 Weeks // Team member: Shayla Thomas

Jobs & Education

49% work in health care and social services

23% earned a college degree

20% work in education sector

Median Income

$50,000 or lesser household income

Site

Ego v/s Eco

Lifting Land

Sheltering the architecture

Disassembly design

Reuse and Resee

Reacting Living material

Iteration models for roof variations

Finalized roof variation model considering the north light intake

Finalized roof variation model structure resolution

Model conceptually depicting the articulation difference between mycelium cladded roof (in white) in comparison to other components and elements (in plywood)

Research Lab interior view and the seamless relationship with the platform

Working scenario and the internal relationship between existing built form (adaptation) and the extension