Mycelia House is a cultivation system for growing and showcasing the beauty of oyster mushrooms in the home.
The design promotes a move towards more sustainable and localised food practices, an appreciation of the fungi kingdom, and a deeper connection with nature.
Mycelia House, inaugural design
Mycelia House is a home cultivation system for growing oyster mushrooms. It’s inspired by DIY bucket grows and cardboard spray-and-grow kits.
It’s reimagined as a considered, sculptural object in the home.
Designed for easy-to-grow, side-fruiting varieties, or remove the lid to top-fruit.
Designed for apartments and city living, it’s an accessible entry point to growing at home.
Substrate sold separately and made by Ruffle Farm in St Peters. Substrate is supplied at a ready to fruit stage.
Once confident and familiar with the cultivation process, make your own substrate.
Mycelia House encourages an appreciation for fungi and growing our own food.
Company Values
Inspired by mycelium.
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The balance of being caring - in between careful and careless.
A process. A practice of listening, responding, tending to.
“Treat design like a gardening practice”- Neri Oxman, Biodesigner
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A relationship.
An evolving conversation.
Exchange of resources.
Symbiosis as living together.
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A process of digestion, integration, articulation and expression.
Bring clarity thtough communication.
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An openness to explore and build - to thread new connections and pathways.
Acknowledging nature’s life/death/life cycles.
Operating seasonally.
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A vision for unity.
Shared visions, working in collaboration, approaching complex issues with a multi-disciplinary lens.
Designed by Caity Duffus
The project began as Caity’s Industrial Design Honours work in 2020 and has since grown into a small-scale commercial product rooted in craft. Follow the hyphae [here] to learn more.
The Network
Mycelia House has been shaped by a generous and growing network of collaborators, mentors, and supporters, and the intention is for this to continue expanding.
The project welcomes collaboration across disciplines - bringing creatives together to share stories, create experiences, and explore the beauty and application of fungi within our systems.
Caity received funding and mentorship support through the Carl Nielsen Accelerator Program with the Powerhouse Museum, without which Mycelia House would not be where it is today. Deep thanks to Ed Ko, Angelique Hutchison, Tashi Grey, and Adam Laws for their support, and to Ruffle Farm (Jess and Joel) and Milkwood (Nick) for sharing their mycological knowledge.
Special thank you to Vicki Grima, Robbi Pittorino, Sarah Jennings and Sabrina Piro!
