|Digital Matter
|Suro//Myco
Upcycling cork to build a better landscape
|Team
Furio Magaraggia, Michael Groth, Miran Calmanovici
|Faculty
Areti Markopoulou, David Andres Leon, Nikol Kirova
|Project year
2021-22
Suro // myco is an innovative urban architectural intervention designed to enhance the well-being of collective spaces by addressing the issue of urban noise pollution. By repurposing up to 50% of waste produced by the local agglomerated cork industry, in the form of cork granulate and imperfect cork stoppers, and combining it with mycelium—an abundant natural binder—the project aims to create high-performance, acoustically absorbing panels adaptable to various urban conditions.
The goal is a regenerative system emphasizing durability, recyclability, and collaborative consumption. Our systematic building deconstruction approach aims for efficient dismantling, prioritizing resource recovery and waste reduction.
Suro // myco combines cork granulate and mycelium, a natural binder, to create high-performance acoustic panels. Initially, prototypes integrated cork stoppers, but to enhance structural integrity, the focus shifted to using cork granulate exclusively. This circular material flow transforms waste from the local cork industry into a sustainable urban solution, offering adaptable and affordable design possibilities without the need for extensive infrastructure changes. The panels maximize sound absorption while minimizing reflection, addressing urban noise pollution effectively.
Module design development
Catalogue
Geometry appllication on facade
In the initial phase, the team experimented with cork granulate and stoppers strategically placed to leverage their unique rough surfaces. While the mycelium-granulate mixture showed decent binding, weaknesses emerged at stopper insertion points. This led to a shift towards panels solely composed of cork granulate for better structural integrity.
Subsequent iterations involved testing cork granulate with hemp and coffee grounds to enhance mycelium growth and panel strength. Hemp hurd waste stood out for its robust fibrous structure, providing superior strength. The team settled on a 3:2 ratio of cork granulate to hemp hurd for the substrate, combining hemp’s strength and cork’s acoustic properties. A parallel computational simulation optimized panel designs for sound absorption, favoring flat panels, particularly in lower building heights.
Assembled final prototype
Suro // myco is one local solution to a global problem of urban noise pollution, however the framework and approach can be employed anywhere. By using the circular material flows provided by biocomposite materials it is possible to start to improve our urban environment without having to rebuild existing infrastructure. The affordability and adaptability of these materials allow us to design with evolution in mind, rather than designing towards a perceived permanence. While solving for the issue of urban noise pollution may not seem to directly help the environment, increasing the livability of cities means that more people can find a lifestyle suitable to their needs within a greater sustainable urban framework.
