A Visit to Pilzling Köln – Mycelium as Material
In preparation for IP25, we took a closer look at the innovative lab of Pilzling Köln – pioneers in urban mushroom cultivation and circular design.
Founded in 2020, Pilzling turns local waste like coffee grounds and wood chips into fertile ground for growing mushrooms. But their vision goes far beyond food: their Mycelium Lab explores the potential of fungi for sustainable materials and urban systems.
Nature doesn’t waste – and neither do we. We were invited to explore their basement lab — a quiet, otherworldly space where mycelium slowly takes shape. The Pilzling team introduced us to the fascinating biology of fungi and their potential as future materials.
Beyond that, they shared how mushrooms also shine in the kitchen — for umami lovers.
