ENGAGED MATERIAL/
PHENOMENAL URBANISM







Mycoshield

Sarah Cawley, Brianna Martinez-Burns, Saahir Lakhani

Filtration Of Air-borne Particulates Via Mycelium-Paneled Origami-Folded Surfaces/Structures;      



Abstract
East Harlem experiences a disproportionate burden of environmental injustice. Climate related hazards such as air pollution from factories, power plants, and heavy traffic, hand in hand with noise pollution intensify the challenges faced by its residents. Our team hypothesizes that this project powered by mycellium can aid to mitigate air pollution, including PM2.5 particles, as well as noise pollution at our proposed site between the FDR Drive and the Harlem River. By leveraging mycelium, the project explores how this living material can be harnessed in multiple forms, pushing the boundaries of its properties and potential applications to purify our air as a total assembly system creating safe, public spaces for community gathering. 

Background
Air Pollution: Toxic spread of air pollution are caused by stationary sources such as factories and power plants and also mobile like cars in trucks. East Harlem as of 2021 falls under the EJ neighborhoods for its exposure.1:4 children in East Harlem of low-income households suffer from asthma. Specifically within adults too, East Harlem has the highest percentage of adults with asthma in NYC being 26.2 Particle PM2.5: A fine particle matter, pollutes the air caused by urban activities such as driving. Most harmful pollutant and can be in solid or liquid form if airborne. Small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. Once in the bloodstream PM2.5 can cause health problems to the respiratory and circulatory system. This lowers life expectancy contributing to 2,000 deaths per year. Noise Pollution East Harlem statistically has the worst noise pollution in NYC. Exposure to it increases risk of heart attack, strokes, Dementia and hear loss. East Harlem specifically reaches an average of 56 decibels while the Upper West Side 50 decidable  


Phenomena Wind:Acting as the primary carrier of airborne pollutants throughout East Harlem, transporting emissions from local traffic, nearby industry, and southern regions of the city, including factories in New Jersey. Pollutants such as PM2.5 particulate matter and fecal residue from the river dispersed air travel. Controlling the wind becomes a core part mof mitigating the air quality crisis. Sound:Noise pollution is generated primarily by continuous traffic along the FDR Drive and the adjacent public transportation network. These persistent sound waves extend beyond the transportation corridors, contributing to chronic noise exposure throughout the neighborhood. Understanding how sound propagates through the site is essential for identifying opportunities to absorb, diffuse, and reduce harmful noise levels.

Cultivation Analysis

Growth and Results based on Bio-Mechanical Properties

 HypothesisWe hypothesize that through the relationship of density and porosity of myclieum, it consists the ability to regulate air quality through capturing and breaking down PM2.5 particles while also performing as an acoustic barrier to mitigation noise pollution

Mechanism Myclieum Porosity of myclieum structures will capture the particulates, and break it down using its enzymes / bio-degradation. Density of the mycelium composite structure will be an acoustic absorber, diffuser and insulator.



Mycellium Growth Process:
The procedure for growing mycellium is one that is delicate in operation, but can be varied when organizing actual casing for mycellium growth.  We speculated different containment forms of varying porosity, shaping, and material to find which method would yield the densest and most effective form of mycellium to consume PM2.5 particles and lower sound pollution.



Mycellium Growth Images




Performance Experiments

Testing the Efficacy of Different Mycellium Growths
Colometric  Analysis
A process measuring changes in water quality following exposure to each mycelium composite, evaluating the material's effectiveness in reducing contaminants such as nitrates, sulfates, and fecal coliform. By comparing the performance of different substrate compositions under identical testing conditions, the experiments identified which material combinations exhibited the greatest filtration potential. These findings informed the selection and refinement of the most effective mycelium system for future environmental remediation applications.



Results
From this study we gathered that all three substrates were able to extract sulfate and nitrate, with hemp-bedding extract the most successfully. 



Sound Test



Overall Testing Conclusions
From our tests, we can successfully state that Myclieum with the substrate of Hemp-bed consists of the most productive properties to capture and break down PM2.5 particles, specifically Sulfate and Nitrate, within which it consists.  

We can also conclude that Myclieum possesses the tools to reduce noise from one source to another, thus proving our hypothesis.  
We wish to explore further our wind study to rethink the growth pattern and/or cycle, considering the possibility of filtration, but has proven to both purify air and reduce noise. 



Material System Development

Developing the Framing Assembly for Mycellium Containment 




Final Prototype: Pratt SOA

Presentation of the Mock-Up and Research to a Review Jury


Fabrication Images


Case Studies: East Harlem

Calculating Growth Networks  for Public Space Interventions

Community Outreach
Life expectancy in East Harlem is only 76 due to the surrounding environmental factors, and the high poverty rate/systematic socioeconomic factors, while the average life expectancy in NYC is 80. 

The air quality is a driving environmental factor of the lower life expectancy, with East Harlem having one of the highest asthma rates in all of NYC.  

Many of the contributing bodies to air pollutants (FDR Drive, Department of Sanitation Garages, 2nd Avenue Subway construction, Metro-North Line Construction on Park Avenue).  

Site Map & Analysis We speculated our case study interventions into East Harlem through research into residential zoning and park areas, ultimately creating a network of mycellium to boost livelhood along walking paths.

Growth systems do not need to be static, but rather flexible to be able to defend against various wind currents at different season moments with future development at different heights and densities per airflow through city streets.













Darrick Borowski
Visiting Associate Professor

dborow64@pratt.edu
darrick@dba.nyc
718.399.4305

http://darrickborowski.com
http://are-a.net
http://materialphenomenal.com

IG:

Mycoshield:
Mycellium

 Sarah Cawley
Brianna Martinez-Burns
Saahir Lakhani

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Mehek Usman Terraflow:
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Urban Osmosis:
Hydrogel

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