Aswini Balashanmugam

I am a passionate and creative Architect, and aspiring Bio Designer who finds true potential in Mycelium and Bio-based research and applications. Inquisitive, open-minded and an ambitious person with a strong motive to explore and learn new areas to understand the overlaps & integrate holistically in an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to strive towards creating a Sustainable Design Model throughout the life cycle in a cradle-to-cradle approach. I hold a strong connection to design from a material and energy perspective which I believe are key components that help us understand the environmental behavior and translate the appropriate information in creating circular sustainable design alternatives to establish a symbiotic relationship with the environment to live in synergy with nature.

I started to work with Mycelium bio composite materials during my master thesis project “Mycelbiosis- Living in Synergy with other Species” to design co-existing spaces for humans and bees establishing mutual symbiosis by keeping the mycelium alive. Since then, based on my previous understanding and knowledge on the properties and behavior of mycelium composites, I have been on a constant exploration and self-paced research on Mycelium through speculative design and visualization and see a valuable potential in application across the design industry and the built environment ranging from lifestyle products to shelters including applications towards passive house designs.

I envision the future architecture would foster change to enable humans to live in synergy with nature than against it like the current scenario by breaking the human dominant approach. As an Architect, not only design for what the client desires, but what the place deserves, for it to blend with the environment to function in synergy with nature, for a holistic symbiosis across all life on earth. Well, we are humans, a part of the Sum, The Universe!