New project seeks to solve housing crisis using mushroom byproduct and troublesome weed - The World from PRX
theworld.org
In Namibia, MycoHAB is hoping to solve two issues for the price of one: make use of a pesky plant known as the encroacher bush and deal with the country's housing crisis. By harvesting the water-intensive weeds that encroach on farmland and combining them with a mushroom byproduct known as mycelium, MycoHAB founder and architect Chris Maurer creates bricks to build homes. The World's Carolyn Beeler spoke to Maurer to learn more.
  • OlPatchy2Eyes@slrpnk.net
    2·
    3 days ago

    Wacky. I’m not sure how it solves the housing crisis though. It’s not like Namibians don’t know how to build their homes, or lack the material.

    The material is a carbon-sequestering concrete alternative made from an otherwise useless plant and that’s what’s neat about it.

    • solo@slrpnk.netOPMEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      I think you’re totally right. It’s a cool project but it doesn’t aim to solve the root of the housing crisis there. Mainly colonialism, lately neoliberalism.