Exploring Mycelium-Based Composites for Sustainable Luminaire Design: a focus on light characteristics

Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs) offer a sustainable alternative to conventional materials in luminaire design.This study investigates how MBC surfaces interact with light and explores their potential applications. Compared to standard lighting surfaces such as aluminium and Traffic White, illuminated MBC surfaces exhibit relatively high luminance and good colour rendering, while maintaining low reflectivity. These properties vary depending on the growth method: MBC grown against a form develops laterally aligned hyphae, resulting in smoother, more reflective surfaces with lower luminance. In contrast, unconstrained growth leads to a velvety surface that scatters light more effectively, enhancing luminance.Based on these insights, a series of luminaires were designed and prototyped using MBC as the primary material. The resulting ‘Crack’ luminaires are simple, scalable designs that juxtapose a streamlined exterior with a chaotic, luminous interior revealed through a crack. The design balances natural aesthetics with functional lighting performance within a sustainable framework.