In light of growing ecological awareness and the urgent need to address climate change, contemporary architecture and design are undergoing a paradigmatic shift in the perception of beauty. This shift moves beyond traditional ideals of permanence, symmetry, and polished industrial materials toward aesthetics rooted in sustainability, ecological responsibility, and regenerative design. This study explores the role of mycelium-based composites (MBCs)—biodegradable materials derived from fungal root systems—as catalysts of this transformation.
The research employs a qualitative, interdisciplinary methodology combining case study analysis with secondary analysis of survey-based studies on material acceptance among architects and design students. Case studies were selected according to three criteria: recency (projects realized within the last decade), experimental or exhibitional character (installations and prototypes showcased at design festivals and exhibitions), and demonstrable engagement with ecological aesthetics. Within this framework, this study focuses on projects such as Living Mycelium Dunes, Growing Pavilion, and Living Cocoon, which exemplify how MBCs manifest themes of organic texture, sensory richness, ephemeral beauty, biomimicry, and modularity. These qualitative attributes were analyzed not merely as formal characteristics, but as expressions of broader aesthetic paradigms.
The theoretical underpinning of this study draws on discourses in sustainable aesthetics and biophilic design (Pallasmaa, 2009; Nowakowski, 2024), which argue that beauty emerges from integration with natural processes rather than domination over them. By situating mycelium within this aesthetic framework, the analysis demonstrates how its material qualities—growth, decay, and regeneration—redefine beauty as cyclical and processual.
In parallel, survey data from architects and students indicate an increasing acceptance of MBCs, especially among younger professionals, who associate beauty with ecological harmony and material life cycles. These findings support the notion that the paradigm shift in aesthetics is both material and cultural: materials like mycelium are valued not only for their visual and tactile qualities, but also for their symbolic and ecological significance.
This study concludes that MBCs embody a new aesthetic vocabulary where transformation, impermanence, and regeneration are central. They not only redefine material aesthetics but also encourage a broader cultural shift in architectural beauty—one that aligns design with ecological responsibility and the rhythms of the natural world.
