• Mycelia House intends to imbue ritual into everyday life through caring for and tending to the mushrooms. The design will contribute to a future where we grow our own food at home and this will evolve to growing locally within our communities. We envision a shift toward sustainable and regenerative food systems that prioritise quality, efficiency, and the well-being.

  • Sustainability has been considered at every stage of the creative process, from connecting with people, to exploring processes and materials, the user’s experience, and observing beginning and end of life cycles, inspired by the intelligence of mycelial networks. What if being more sustainable was about how we respond to and communicate with the world around us? First Nations cultures have long embodied this understanding, living in deep relationship with land, water, and all beings.

    Mycelia House is made in small batches in Sydney, Australia, our products combine the emerging technology of ceramic 3D printing with traditional handcrafted techniques like slip casting.

    The ceramics are durable and designed to last with proper care.

    Used mushroom substrate can be returned to the earth to enrich your garden.

    Plastic bags should be disposed of in the bin. We are exploring bio-plastic alternatives for mushroom cultivation and plan to transition when available and viable.

    Alternatively, you can create your own substrate and place it directly into the pot!

  • We live in a globalised world that has evolved to living in urban areas. Technology is advancing rapidly and with this we are desiring products we can connect with and emotionally relate to. The Covid 19 pandemic has had a ripple effect into the way we live and work, spending more time at home, as well as we are noticing and craving a deeper relationship with ourselves, the natural world and our daily routine. With trends arising in the localisation of food production and DIY alternatives, as well as a love for houseplants, the concept for mycelia houses has manifested. When we localise food, this leads to more sustainable and diverse food systems.

Close-up of yellow and pearl oyster mushrooms growing out of Mycelia House - a home cultivation system.
Caity Duffus in ceramics studio for Mycelia House.

  • Caity Duffus is a designer and the steward of Mycelia House - a project that started as her Industrial Design Honours work (2020) and has now grown into a commercial product on a craft scale.

    Blending a love of functional design, ceramics, fungi, and the natural world, Mycelia House emerged as a quiet response to what we need most: a call to re-centre our relationships. To listen more deeply. To care more fully. And to rebuild inner and outer threads of connection.

  • Many people have supported this journey so far, and the vision is to keep this growing. Mycelia House will continue to welcome collaboration across disciplines - bringing together creatives to share stories, create experiences, and explore the beauty and application of fungi in our systems.

    Caity received funding and mentorship support for this project and without it, Mycelia House wouldn’t be where it is today. Thank you to the generosity of the Carl Nielsen Accelerator Program with the Powerhouse Museum (follow the 👾). Thank you to Ed Ko, Angelique Hutchison, Tashi Grey and Adam Laws for this opportunity and your support, and also to Ruffle Farm and Milkwood for your myco-knowledge.

    Standing with every creative is a strong support network. Caity would like to acknowledge and thank Robbi Pittorino, Vicki Grima, Andrew Simpson, Sabrina Piro, Jess Coulson, Joel Brauer, Nick Rita, Carolyn Hickey, Susie Hemsted, Mirna Novosel, Nicola Jephcott, Luke Reid, Glenn Duffus, and Sue Duffus.

About Mycelia House

Mycelia House is a home cultivation system for growing oyster mushrooms, inspired by DIY bucket grows and cardboard spray-and-grow kits.

It’s designed for oyster mushroom varieties that side fruit, with top-fruiting varieties coming soon.

Mushroom grow kits offer an accessible and engaging way for beginners to cultivate their own mushrooms at home, while also gaining insights into the circular economy.

The terracotta design leverages its natural wicking properties to create an ideal microclimate for mushroom growth. Simply add water to the tray and lightly mist around the vessel twice daily.

Mushrooms typically begin fruiting within 5–7 days.

Each Mycelia House includes a grow guide booklet to support you on your cultivation journey.

Please note: mushroom growth substrate is sold separately.