GROWNSPOT: FROM FUNGI TO BESPOKE DESIGNS

If you are passionate about bespoke interior design solutions and healthy living conditions, but are also about your environmental footprint, GrownSpot is good news for you. The Bulgarian company has embraced a radical yet practical idea – to turn fungal mycelium into beautiful, harmless and highly adaptable interior accessories. How is this possible? Founder Yavor Froloshki elaborates.

How did you come up with the idea for GrownSpot?

The idea for GrownSpot was born while searching for environmentally friendly and biodegradable corporate gifts for our clients. During my research, I came across a video showcasing ten innovative materials with the potential to shift the balance toward circular and sustainable material use. One of these was a natural adhesive derived from mycelium.

Yavor Froloshki

Mycelium is the root system of mushrooms – a fine, living network of microscopic threads called hyphae. As I dived deeper, I discovered it has so many applications: as a base for meat substitutes, natural leather alternatives and biodegradable structural materials known as biocomposites.

This inspired me to explore how mycelium could be developed into functional and aesthetic products – and that's how the GrownSpot brand was born. Since my professional background includes working with technological composites, it felt natural to apply this knowledge to a living material. Within a few months, we had developed our first finished lighting fixtures made entirely from mycelium.

How is the material you work with obtained?

Our material is fascinating – and challenging – because throughout most of the production process, it's a living organism. It responds to environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light and oxygen concentration.

The core ingredients include mycelial spores, organic agricultural waste (such as grain husks, corn stalks, hemp processing byproducts, or used coffee grounds), and timber industry residues like sawdust – all mixed in precisely defined ratios with water.

Different mushroom species are chosen based on the properties desired in the final product. For example, Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) provides excellent structural strength, while Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) creates a soft, velvety surface for aesthetic finishes.

Once we achieve the desired form and surface quality, the material undergoes heat treatment. This step halts biological activity by deactivating the spores and extracts residual moisture, resulting in a durable, stable biocomposites.

What are its advantages for modern customers and society?

Mycelium biocomposites offer several key advantages:

• Completely natural and non-toxic: No harmful binders or synthetic resins are used – the mycelium itself acts as a natural glue.
• Fully biodegradable: Our products decompose in standard home compost within 45-60 days, enriching the soil with nutrients. In marine environments, complete biodegradation occurs within roughly six months.
• Functional performance: Mycelium composites demonstrate excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as natural fire and water resistance. Under certain conditions, we can also integrate natural pigments without compromising these properties.
• Aesthetic versatility: Depending on the cultivation method, mycelium can develop various textures – rough finish or unique, velvety surface that evokes a genuine "wow" effect when touched.
• Low energy production: The growth process is a low-energy bio-fabrication method compared to manufacturing traditional materials.
• Carbon sink: Mycelium biocomposites act as carbon sinks because their growth process captures carbon from the agricultural waste they consume

Together, these qualities make mycelium an exceptional material which can be affordable and viable alternative to non-renewable materials like polystyrene and polyurethane in applications such as packaging, insulation and furniture.

What is its application in modern interiors?

The potential applications in modern interiors are vast. At GrownSpot, we focus primarily on lighting design, offering table, floor and pendant lamps in various shapes and sizes – from compact 10 cm models to hemispherical fixtures up to 60 cm in diameter.

We have developed a system for rapid prototyping, allowing us to go from concept sketch to finished product in under three weeks after final design approval. This flexibility enables us to collaborate closely with interior designers and architects, growing unique pieces, tailored to specific projects.

One notable example is a restaurant project in Cologne, Germany, where we not only cultivated the custom lamps but also engineered a concealed mounting system adapted to the space's architecture, lamp size and weight.

Beyond lighting, mycelium's sound-absorbing qualities make it an ideal material for acoustic panels in spaces requiring controlled noise levels. Additionally, we see exciting potential in functional furniture, such as tables and chairs, as well as art and exhibition installations that explore the intersection of nature, design and technology.

+359 886 606 494
info@grownspot.com
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