The Force of Fungi

Thesis Project

Haliburton Forest, Haliburton, ON individual academic work 2023

The Force of Fungi embarks on an exploration of anthropogenic and climate change-related challenges, utilizing the resilient and innovative capabilities of mycelium as a design tool.

Haliburton, ON is used as a testing ground for a new Mycelium Research and Production Centre. Working in synergy with existing local businesses, these interventions produce mycelium biomaterials in a closed-loop system using local surplus byproducts.

This approach significantly benefits communities experiencing energy poverty through the reduction of home energy cost burdens, offering a renewable and low-carbon alternative to synthetic products. An emergent form of ecology-based economy is created by threading vulnerable ecosystems back together with mycelium.

The design interventions materialize along the primary access road, where the vibrant tapestry of the Haliburton Forest intersects with the bustling cottage and residential area. By forging this harmonious connection between nature and human settlements, The Force of Fungi paves the way for a resilient, sustainable, and community-centric approach to design and ecology in Haliburton and beyond.