Rebound and Det Levende Hus develop "world's first" mass-produced mycelium door

Danish mycelium company Rebound has partnered with architecture studio Det Levende Hus to create a sustainable interior door with a core made from cultivated fungi.

Rebound, which is developing a range of products using fungal mycelium, collaborated with Det Levende Hus to create what it claimed is "the world's first mass-produced interior door made from mycelium."

The door, which is currently in the prototype phase, is part of a collection of bio-based interior and sliding doors designed for modern living spaces.

The product will be used for the first time at Kaerhytten, a low-impact housing project designed by architect Jens Martin Suzuki-Højrup's studio in Ramloese, Denmark, which is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Rebound co-founder Jon Strunge explained that mycelium offers a sustainable alternative to the use of slow-growing hardwoods in high-volume architectural products such as internal doors.

"We wanted to demonstrate how regenerative, high-performance mycelium-based materials open opportunities for new, innovative and scalable building components," he said.

The door was made by cultivating the fast-growing root structure of fungi in a mould to create a rigid, lightweight panel with natural sound-absorbing qualities.

This mycelium core is enclosed within a timber frame constructed using reclaimed and surplus wood, including offcuts provided by Danish flooring manufacturer Dinesen.

Suzuki-Højrup told Dezeen that the team chose to focus on an often overlooked element within interior spaces that has the potential to be tailored to different contexts.

"Since we pass through doors every day without really noticing them, we saw an opportunity to transform this everyday experience into something more engaging," he added.

Adaptability to suit different architectural settings was a key criteria for the product and is made possible by altering the colour or surface texture during the growing process.

The prototype door presents a smooth, silky surface texture, but the material can take on other natural tones and can also be covered with a layer of clay to provide an alternative finish.

The door that will be used at the Kaerhytten housing project was designed to comply with current building standards for private homes, in particular with regard to fire and moisture resistance.

An additional bio-based layer incorporated during the growing process helps to stiffen the door and improve fire resistance. This bio-welding method adds reinforcement without the need for glue or additional manufacturing stages.

Regarding the product's scalability, Suzuki-Højrup explained that the growing process developed by Rebound takes approximately two weeks and will allow the doors to be industrially produced.

"Once the door panel is grown and the internal structure has been bio-welded inside it, no additional finishing is required," said Suzuki-Højrup.

The prototype features a door handle designed by architect Bjarne Hammer for Danish hardware brand Randi. The Moom handle was made from recycled seashells, which creates a smooth yet tactile surface.

The project team claimed that they set out to challenge conventional material hierarchies in architecture by demonstrating how bio-based materials can provide elevated performance alongside enhanced aesthetic and sensory properties.

"It's about more than sustainability," added Suzuki-Højrup. "It's about how natural materials can transform our experience of space; visually, acoustically, even emotionally, when they're considered from the outset."

Alongside the door, Rebound and Det Levende Hus are developing a range of mycelium-based products for the mass market, including acoustic wall panels and ceilings.

Mycelium is increasingly being used in architectural applications, such as insulation panels featured in an experimental timber pavilion created by materials company Myceen and the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Giant acoustic panels grown from hemp and mycelium featured in a dance music tent at the Glastonbury festival, while the material was also used to clad a pavilion presented at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The photography is by Rebound.

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