PHYTA BIODESIGN
INNOVATIVE HABITAT DESIGN: PHYTA BIODESIGN AND MAGICAL MUSHROOM COMPANY® CREATE APIA PANELS
FOSTERING URBAN BIODIVERSITY
Phyta Biodesign, a London-based startup at the intersection of biotechnology and architectural design, develops innovative systems to foster biodiversity and rewild urban environments. Their work integrates computational design, material research, and digital fabrication.
To combat the alarming decline in pollinators, Phyta Biodesign created the Apia Modular Wall System, a groundbreaking solution designed to transform urban facades into habitats for solitary bees. Partnering with Magical Mushroom Company®, they crafted mycelium-based panels that are sustainable, water-repellent, and biodegradable, aligning with their mission to reconnect urban spaces with nature.
This collaboration marks a significant step in blending sustainable architecture with ecological preservation, showcasing the potential of nature-inspired materials to address critical environmental challenges.
“MAGICAL MUSHROOM COMPANY® HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE PARTNER.”
THE PROBLEM
The UK has seen a staggering 60% decline in flying insect populations over the past two decades, endangering 240 species of solitary native bees essential for pollination and ecosystem health.
Urbanisation, harmful pesticides, and land use changes have drastically reduced suitable habitats for these bees, whose survival is critical for 75% of crop species and 80% of flowering plants.
Traditional urban building materials like steel, glass, and concrete further exacerbate this issue, leaving cities devoid of the biodiversity necessary for a thriving ecosystem.
THE SOLUTION
Phyta Biodesign developed Apia, a modular wall system that transforms any exterior wall into a pollinator habitat.
Apia panels are made from mycelium, a natural material found in bee habitats like tree bark and soil. Mycelium’s versatility enables it to serve as a sustainable and durable construction material that is biodegradable at the end of its lifecycle.
The Apia system integrates material research, computational design, and digital fabrication, creating a long-lasting, water-repellent solution to foster urban biodiversity.
THE RESULT
Phyta Biodesign collaborated with Magical Mushroom Company® to produce high-quality Apia panels using MMC’s efficient and streamlined mycelium production processes.
The first Apia pilot walls are now being installed across London, with ecological data collection underway to optimise future designs. This initiative bridges the gap between the built environment and natural ecosystems, redefining sustainable architecture.
Phyta Biodesign’s mission is to set a precedent for innovative, nature-inspired solutions that foster coexistence between urban spaces and ecological systems, creating a circular building methodology.
“We aim to create awareness of critical species decline in urban environments and explore how architecturally integrated solutions can create a new approach toward an interspecies built environment.
We would like to thank Magical Mushroom Company® for their support and hope to continue our collaboration for future product development.”
Phyta Biodesign Team
