In addition to finding ways to reuse dimensional lumber (2x4s and other traditional, measured cuts of wood), the exhibitors are focused on the strength and versality of mycelium and soy wax flakes, both of which can be formed into building blocks.
“There are new developments, like photogrammetry and other types of machine visioning, that allow us to digitally understand the complex forms of trees in new ways,” MacDonald said. “One of the projects deals with, ‘How do we use the whole log instead of just dimensional lumber?’”
There are multiple displays of logs sawn into thin slices from both ends, but still connected on those ends, with the wood spread out and held apart by threaded steel rods bolted into place and spaced with rubber washers to form a panel. One display on McCormick Road, by the HANNAH design studio at Cornell University, uses the technique to build a curving structure with a bench.
“With the UNLOG Project outside the Physics Building, they had come up with the technique and used it previously, but never deployed it on a large scale as they are doing in this installation,” Schumann said. “The form and location of each of the pieces are angled to align with the trees on the site so there is a dialogue between the cut trees in the installation and the existing trees on the site.”