Winner: Owen Gains, Laurentian University
Owen’s project ‘Re-Metablise’ explores the potential of mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi, as a synthetic foam replacement in panelized building systems. The proposed technology seeks to create circularity in the supply chain commencing with the use of wood waste products.
JURY COMMENT:
The project impressed us with the comprehensive nature of the investigation including bioreactor prototyping and panel testing, concluding with a proposal for a production research centre and preliminary panel catalogue.
It represents the kind of thinking and research that are essential to reimagining our building materials supply chain as we seek to reduce the carbon impacts of the building industry.