Studying the effects of self replication through mapping the growth of mycelium by means of agent based modeling. This thesis is an exploration towards new methodology opportunities in the built environment.
Architecture freely appropriates specific methodologies from other disciplines, most commonly disciplines highly involved with technological fields and the latest fabrication advancements. While these targeted areas may offer viable answers perhaps there are alternative fields of study where opportunities can be sought.
Incorporating methods that have proven to work over years and years of evolution could be the strategy for how knowledge of the past can direct the future. Biology is the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.1 One of the oldest and most simplistic forms of life is fungus. Fungal colonies are composed of hyphae filaments which interconnect and branch mycelium, the vegetative component. A carbon dioxide emitting/oxygen in taking organism that not only expands through self replication, but also maintains, repairs, dismantles and recycles itself. Growing in a linear branching pattern while constantly networking with itself to collect and feed off of its own energy in response to nutrient assimilation. This complex system adapts to its surroundings through expansion and contraction based on necessity in order to survive and thrive.
Agency has been chosen as the computation technique, as it allows for the intricacies of this multifaceted system to be mapped with a level of intelligence, interactivity and accuracy incomparable to traditional modeling strategies. It is able to determine scaling in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions at multiple spatial resolutions through the mapping process. Agent based modeling simulations will track the complex network of interactions and connections that make up this intertwining organism and make it possible to observe emergent patterns and unexpected events. The agents will be assigned a set of rules based upon the growth pattern of mycelium. Mycelium is composed of a number of small parts that combine to make up a vast whole, it is important to understand what happens at the simplest level of interaction in order to obtain the ability of rapid prototyping and a further understanding of nature’s blue print. Computational mapping will determine if this gateway species could give way to future design strategies.
1. Wikipedia contributors. “Biology.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.