“When mushrooms become architects” – SusTech online webinar
The project SusTech – Sustainable Technologies for Ecovillages and Communities, funded by the European Union, is cultivating a network of innovators exploring practical, regenerative, and low-tech solutions for a sustainable future. Last week, the project reaches an exciting milestone in Slovenia!
On January 21, the Slovenian partner Sunny Hill hosted the online event titled “When Mushrooms Become Architects”🧱🍄.
The event explored the fascinating world of mycelium and its wide range of applications, including:
- Construction elements like mycelium bricks
- Noise and thermal insulation
- Laminate and furniture
- Packaging
- Design and lighting elements
- Biodegradable coffins
- Vegan alternatives to leather and textiles (shoes, hats, and more)
The future of sustainable technologies is not only designed, it’s cultivated!
What if building materials were grown instead of extracted?
Can mycelium really offer an ecological alternative, and what challenges still need to be addressed?
What role do local production and low-energy inputs play in shaping a more sustainable future?
These questions and more were addessed by Primož Turnšek, microbiologist and director of Gobnjak d.o.o., who shared both scientific insights and hands-on experience from his work. Primož has developed numerous mycelium-based products, from bricks to packaging, and showcased real-life examples of how these materials are grown rather than extracted.
👉 Explore his work here:
https://czk.si/made-in-slovenia/krater-kapsula/
https://gobnjak.com/pages/o-gobnjaku
What’s happening next in Sustech?
In February 2026, Sunny Hill will host another online lecture featuring Aljaž Plankl, permaculture practitioner. His talk will focus on forest gardens and introduce a simple, practical approach to creating edible forest ecosystems through cellular planting systems.
👉 Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJXcbjh6i-Ds2nn_Vwl1n3gmks-I7UNjgtoMUcI8bkUTldbg/viewform?usp=header. (The webinar will be in Slovenian lenguage).
Stay tuned to know more about the workshop and for more insights on practical, regenerative technologies!
