THE GROW MACHINE

A machine to grow biomaterials at home

The Grow Machine is a simplified incubator that allows amateur makers and scientists to experiment with growing mycelium. The incubator is a clean environment, with a laminar flow, with temperature, humidity and light controlled settings to experiment with finding the environment that best suits the type of mycelium growing. 

The grow machine aims to bridge the gap between scientists developing biomaterials in laboratories and the amateur maker intrigued by the potential of growable materials. While the machine has been designed with mycelium in mind, the conditions are also suitable for other biomaterials like cellulose.

The Grow Machine was created during a residency at Autodesk Pier 9 in 2017.

 
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Video by Blue Bergen

 

Rethinking the way we make things

I am interested in the value people hold towards the products in their life, perhaps a beautiful chair that has been passed down through generations, or the transient plastic toys of our childhoods. In today’s throwaway society, we hold very little emotional or financial value on the many finite resources we interact with daily. How can we rethink the way we value our resources? How might we build an understanding for the inherent value of the objects and resources around us? How might a high value on resources affect the way we use, own and dispose of products? 

The grow machine is a project of curiosity into exploring the process of growing biomaterials. It is one solution that can engage users in a deeper understanding of natural resources, hopefully encouraging more curiosity into the origins of other resources. And if the experiments don’t turn into anything useful, the user can simply throw them onto a compost heap, learning about the process of decomposition. 

I look forward to a future where consumers are aware of the time and resources required to make products, and ultimately value them more. That way, perhaps we may have a chance of leaving our planet in a better state than when we arrived here.

 
 
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What are the possibilities of mycelium?

The Grow Machine doesn’t offer a simple way to produce biodegradable objects; it requires creative thinkers to understand the material and how it grows, then imagine and design an object within the constraints of the material properties. It takes time to learn and understand the process of working with a sensitive material during its growing phase, all of which adds to the engagement and connection the user has with the end product.

If you are interested in learning more about the possibilities of mycelium, have a look at some of the companies that I found inspiring and helpful during my research: 

Mycoworks, Fungi Perfecti founded by Paul Stamets, Ecovative, Officina Corpuscoli, Neffa.

Below are some of the objects grown throughout the project.

 
 
 
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Autodesk Pier 9 Residency 

The Grow Machine was built during an incredible residency at Autodesk Pier 9 in San Francisco which was filled with learning and exploring manufacturing and fabrication.

If you want to build this yourself or you are curious about how it was made, this Instructables documents the whole process. Here’s a selection of pictures.

 
 
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