The Mycobloc Chair
New life grew on a discarded plastic Monobloc chair in the bustling streets of Bengaluru. Maria Joseph’s artistic approach and the techniques developed at Nuvedo by fungi experts transformed the chair into a bio-fabricated wonder. The Reishi mycelium multiplied on ragi straw, an agricultural byproduct, and enfolded the chair. The Mycobloc Chair serves as a reminder to question our wasteful consumption.
Medium: Monobloc plastic chair, Mycomaterials
Year: 2022
Team
Maria Joseph
Artist
Maria Joseph is a versatile product designer engaged in diverse projects, spanning material development, mass-produced items, technology-driven solutions, and craft-oriented outputs. With a penchant for initiating interdisciplinary collaborations, she envisions the synergy of science and design to yield empathetic and ecologically conscious results. Joseph is committed to leveraging design research for creating interventions that envision sustainable indigenous practices in the future. Currently pursuing her Master's in Design Futures at the Royal College of Art in London, her areas of interest encompass Open Design, Manufacturing, Participatory Design, Speculative Design, Biomaterial Applications, and Service Design.
Nuvedo
Fungi Experts
Nuvedo is a functional mushroom brand based in Bangalore, on a mission to bring the healing benefits of the transformative power of mushrooms to people. They aim to shed light on the ecological impact of fungi and the broader significance of mycelium as a critique of anthropocentrism in the future.
