'Homegrown Agora' speculates on the possibilities which emerge from an integration of nature and architecture. The project reframes agricultural waste and the growth of fungi as valuable resources for the production of biomaterials. The proposal explores how it is possible to build with locally produced bio-based materials as substitutes for the products with high levels of embodied carbon prevalent in the building industry. It is both a building and a system, which incorporates growing, producing, using and decomposing materials. 

The design of a new residential typology engages individuals in the creation of a self-sustaining community, who have control over what their homes are made of and how communal space is shared. Within this framework a natural material palette of carbon sequestering materials was explored and tested, including various mycelium bio-composites grown using food waste and used as insulation throughout the building. Inhabitants of the building have access to shared kitchen gardens and can manage the repair and maintenance of their homes; shared kitchens on every floor offer everyday opportunities for residents to come together.