Studio Aléa’s "Back to Dirt" project reimagines sustainable design through the use of myco-fabrication, a process using mycelium—the root network of fungi—to develop eco-friendly materials from organic waste. In "Back to Dirt," mycelium is cultivated within soil molds by employing local soil as a natural mold for growing objects, to create biodegradable and organic furniture pieces. The myco-fabrication process bypasses the need for industrial processes that require plastic molding or sterilization to produce furniture items. “Back-to-dirts” approach allows materials to thrive in the open air, emphasizing biocircularity by regenerating soils as they grow.
Awarded the Boisbuchet Residency in 2021, Studio Aléa’s Miriam Josi and Stella Lee Prowse had the opportunity to bring this approach outdoors, scaling up their bio-inclusive practices. During their residency at Domaine de Boisbuchet, they created the first underground myco-fabricated chair, titled “Dirty Chair No.1”, a full-scale proof of concept of their sustainable, circular design approach. “Dirty Chair” underscores how bio-materials can reshape design, architecture, and environmental restoration by working in harmony with nature.