From Decay to Construction: The Many Roles of Fungi at the Royal Danish Academy

At the Royal Danish Academy, diverse disciplines and perspectives come together. Two of their representative, associate professor and microbiologist Michela Gambino, and professor of architecture Phil Ayres, share one thing: a fascination with fungi.

Michela Gambino works at the Institute of Conservation, focusing on preventing fungi from degrading cultural and natural heritage, while Phil Ayres is affiliated with the Institute of Architecture and Technology, exploring fungi as a building material in his research. Despite their different goals, they have established a professional dialogue about microorganisms such as fungi and algae. Both agree that fungi hold enormous potential, both as a threat and as a resource.

"Indoors, fungi are the greatest threat to heritage," explains Michela Gambino. "They can grow on anything, from books to paintings, and even with low humidity some species find ways to survive and damage materials."

Her research examines how microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and algae degrade cultural and natural heritage. Her work is crucial in ensuring that future generations will experience everything from Viking ships to photographs and modern artworks.

Phil Ayres works at the opposite end of the spectrum. He sees fungi as a building block for sustainable architecture. In his research, he cultivates fungi – specifically mycelium – on local waste products such as wood chips and agricultural residues. The result is biological materials that can be used in architecture.

"We’re trying to transform architecture from being a climate burden into a climate asset," says Phil Ayres. "Fungi allow us to work with local resources, create low-energy materials, and develop new aesthetic and functional expressions."

And building components made of mycelium are already appearing: "We’re already surrounded by fungi-based products," says Phil Ayres. "Acoustic panels and insulation made from mycelium are widely available. It’s not about building entire houses out of fungi, but about integrating them intelligently and sustainably."

Disciplines helping each other

The potential of fungi goes far beyond the lab. They can create materials with a low carbon footprint, grow on waste, and be shaped with great precision. At the same time, they require deep knowledge of biological processes and here, the dialogue between researchers like Michela Gambino and Phil Ayres is essential.

Fungi are living organisms, and their growth requires precise control. Michela Gambino’s microbiological expertise is invaluable for understanding conditions like temperature, humidity, and nutrients – knowledge that helps stabilize fungi-based materials.

"While Phil experiments with fungi in materials, I can contribute with insights into which species colonize old and new materials fastest and under what conditions."

Phil Ayres adds: "We work to create sterile environments so only the desired fungus grows. Once established, it becomes resistant to other microorganisms."

Michela Gambino also sees great potential in sharing knowledge across disciplines: "Some fungi I see thriving in the lab might be useful for Phil’s material experiments. Conversely, his work on controlled contamination gives me insight into which species dominate under certain conditions."

Preservation or decay?

The collaboration between Phil Ayres and Michela Gambino shows how interdisciplinarity opens new perspectives – not only in research but also in fundamental questions, such as when Michela Gambino asks about the durability of fungi-based materials: "If it’s going to become art or architecture, we need to know how it decays over time. Should it last 100 years, or is it okay if it rots?"

Phil Ayres sees decay as part of the design: "We’ve created a weave where decomposition is visible, making it part of the work. It challenges traditional conservation goals."

"Conservation isn’t just about preserving aesthetics," Michela explains. "It’s also about documenting information – how something looked, how it decays, and what data we can extract in the future."

Their shared understanding of fungal biology becomes a meeting point where differences turn into strengths: "It’s a kind of mutualism," says Phil Ayres. "We use the same knowledge – just for different purposes."

Michela Gambino adds: "The most important thing is to understand fungi; their strengths, weaknesses, and interactions with the environment. Without research, we couldn’t use them for either conservation or construction."