Spawn Hybrids: 10 Week Elective at LS Raheja School of Architecture

In 2024, we had the opportunity to conduct Spawn Hybrids, a mycelium-focused design studio, in collaboration with LS Raheja School of Architecture as part of our Godrej Design Lab Fellowship. The workshop emerged as a platform for students to critically engage with questions of materiality, sustainability, and design responsibility—through the lens of mycelium, a living, growing, biodegradable material.

As an extension of our work with MycoMuseum, Spawn Hybrids invites students to reimagine architecture not just as something built, but something grown. Rooted in ideas of biophilic design and circular material systems, the course offered a deep dive into alternative materials that can respond to the environmental crisis posed by traditional construction practices.

Over 10 weeks, students were guided through the complete process of working with mycelium composites—from biology to built form. They began by cultivating fungal cultures in petri dishes, understanding the science and behavior of mycelium at a microscopic level. This initial phase introduced them to the slow, organic rhythms of living material—something radically different from the speed of industrial production. As the workshop progressed, they moved on to growing substrates, learning how to combine mycelium with agricultural waste to develop bio-composites. The final phase involved designing and growing objects and architectural systems, which combined functionality with ecological sensitivity.

The design outcomes were as varied as they were innovative. Some standout projects 

Mycelium Louvers
Vishal Gupta & Lokessha Nambudiri, LS Raheja School of Architecture

Mycelium, when embedded within louvres, can create functional ventilation panels that serve a dual purpose: filtering out airborne particulate matter and managing natural light. These panels can be strategically arranged to optimize airflow while maintaining a comfortable indoor climate. The system involves growing mycelium on a metal mesh to create thin panels which actively filters the air, removing harmful particles and toxins, thus contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

MycoLumina
Alwina Jojo Kallivalappil and Vanshishika Krishna, LS Raheja School of Architecture

Inspired by the fascinating growth patterns of mycelium, our design combines the organic beauty of fungal networks with the stunning visual effects of stained glass. MycoLumina is a living double-glazed window panel that showcases the growth of mycelium, as it traverses and creates intricate patterns in search of nutrients. This innovative façade evolves over time, as the mycelium gradually covers the panel, casting an ever-changing kaleidoscope of light and shadow. Once fully saturated, the panel can be replaced, giving rise to a new cycle of growth.

Bioluminescent Mycelium Blocks

Harsh Parab & Ria Desai, LS Raheja School of Architecture

These blocks harness the natural glow of ‘Mycena chlorophos’ through a bioluminescence process, emitting a faint but enchanting light. When grouped together as paver blocks, they create a unique wayfinding solution in areas with very low light, such as landscapes or pathways in remote locations. Perfect for nighttime navigation among natural flora and fauna, they provide subtle illumination without disrupting the ecosystem. This prototype is using an oyster strain.

Biodegradable Hiking Gear

Hardik Shirolkar & Snehal Pote : Exploring the potential of mycelium composites as infills for insulation

What connected them all was a shared curiosity—a willingness to let go of conventional materials and trust the intelligence of biological systems. Many students embraced failure as part of the growth process (sometimes literally), learning how to iterate with living matter and respect its unpredictability.

This collaboration with LS Raheja School of Architecture was especially meaningful to us—as alumni, returning to teach Spawn Hybrids felt like closing a loop and opening a new one. Supported by the Godrej Design Lab Fellowship, the workshop created space for research-through-making, where students didn’t just imagine sustainable futures—they grew them. Bridging material science, speculative architecture, and ecological thinking, Spawn Hybrids encouraged students to prototype with living materials and rethink our relationship with the built environment. As regenerative design gains momentum, workshops like this show how education can become both a seed and a spark.

Students and project credits : Aastha Sutaria, Alwina Jojo, Dhruv Aya, Hardik Shirodkar, Harsh Parab, Janhvi Bajirao, Krisha Mohta, Lokessha Nambudri, Pooja Rao, Purva Kamble, Rasik Patil, Ria Desai, Ridhima Mittal, Sachi Baddur, Sahil Abbas Zaidi, Sarang Patil, Snehal Pote, Vanshita V, Vanshshika Krishna, Vishal Gupta