Designer Eric Klarenbeek has been working with scientists at the University Of Wageningen to demonstrate the exciting potential of combining ultra-modern technologies with biological processes.

The Mycelium Chair, presented at Dutch Design Week, was 3D-printed from a mixture of water, powdered straw and mycelium (the bit responsible for fungus’ growth). After it had been printed, the mycelium continued to grow within the chair’s structure, gradually replacing the water and eventually sprouting mushrooms on the surface. At this point, the chair dried out and was covered in a layer of bio-plastic. The result was a durable, lightweight – and phantasmagorical – construct.

Mycelium Chair raises issues of sustainable design and new technologies, but just like the crockery 3D-printed from sugar and Dewar’s 3-B Printing Project, it also touches on the interesting potential of experimental materials, particularly those that incorporate natural, organic substances.