Our 3D-printed Tree Column is a living sculpture inspired by natural growth patterns and designed to support them. Each column is made from used coffee cups inoculated with mycelium—the root network of mushrooms. To create it, we developed an algorithm that generates forms conducive to mycelium growth. These forms replicate ideal environmental conditions by retaining moisture and shielding the organism from airflow, allowing it to thrive in warm, humid environments.

The Tree Column was first exhibited in Waste Age: What Can Design Do?, a major exhibition curated by the London Design Museum in 2021. The show tackled the urgent issue of waste, showcasing how designers can reimagine discarded materials as valuable resources. The exhibition later traveled internationally, with stops at the Hong Kong Design Institute (2022), Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris (2023), and the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham (2024).