ELLE & LUI
Rhinoceros, CNC Machine
In collaboration with Designers:
Jo Hutchinson, India Macpherson and Dharav Desai
A NEW BIO-BASED MATERIAL
Furniture company KFIVE partnered with Monash University for an innovative initiative. Top students across architecture, spatial design, product design, and art collaborated to craft sustainable furniture, employing mycelium and discarded materials. Mycelium, the underground part of mushrooms, was cultivated amongst organic waste like rice husks, woodchips, used coffee grounds, and textiles. Our project 'Elle & Lui' was transformed into a freestanding sculpture, with the possibility of a functioning floor lamp f, space divider, and exceptional acoustic product. Designed for longevity, the furniture is biodegradable and environmentally conscious throughout all stages of the design process. This mycelium-based approach significantly reduces ecological impact, inspiring a new generation of designers to embrace eco-friendly practices.
The smaller prototype, allowed us to push the limits of the material capabilities. This provided us an understanding of the material limitations enabling us to progress towards the final model
Throughout the manufacturing process, we maintained a sterile environment and precise temperature and humidity conditions. This ensured optimal conditions as we carefully introduced the mycelium into the CNC foam mold.
Our first attempt demonstrated the need to reinforce the surface and middle with pure cotton in order to best preserve the pattern
Two layers of cotton were placed within the Mycelium
panel; one within the pattern face and the the other in
the middle.This lead to the cleanest removal outcome,
refined detail and a stronger panel overall.
Upon the mycelium's complete growth, we incorporated reinforced timber supports directly into it. These supports connect the mycelium to the metal base.
The assembly process for this piece
