10th Floor Studio x TwoTwo
October 2025
Grow fungi into an object for your home. Here at 10th Floor Studio, we firmly believe that fungi can help us transition away from synthetic petroleum products and towards futures where humans coexist as a part of the natural world. We’ve been working with fungi for the last 7 years and are excited to offer a workshop to introduce you to these incredible organisms! Fungi exist in many forms, in this session we’ll be using the oft-unseen underground body of the fungi, called mycelium, to grow an object for your home. This 2.5-hour workshop will begin with a brief intro to growing objects out of fungi and our work at 10th Floor Studio. You’ll learn the basics about choosing a suitable species of fungi, how to avoid contamination, and how to create an object using a mold form. We’ll walk you through designing and assembling your customized bud vase mold. Then it’s time to break up the mycelium, pack it in the mold, and let it grow!
Workshop
AT Two TwoINTRO TO BIOFABRICATION
We’ll talk about the process of working with fungi and give you a glimpse into our studio practice.
PACK THE MOLDS
We’ll pack the molds designed by 10th Floor Studio with either shiitake, Oyster or Reishi mycelium.
AT HOME
GROW
Place the packed mold in a clean area (like a corner of your kitchen counter), away from pets and potential contaminants.
Wait 7 days for the mycelium to grow.
At this point, when you remove the lid, the sawdust in your mold should look white. Now you’re ready to release the form from the mold.
DE-MOLD
Carefully remove the mycelium from the tray. If it feels stuck, go around the sides with a clean knife to detach it. You can also poke it out from the hole in the bottom.
GROW OUT THE SIDES
The sides of the mycelium form that were in contact with the mold need some time to grow out and get white/brown.
If you want to do some subtractive sculpting, now is the time. With a clean tool or clean hands (gloves), simply carve away at the material, keeping in mind to not pull away from the bottom where the base will attach.
Place the mycelium form in a clean, flat-bottomed container. Alternatively, you can place your object on a baking sheet or flat non-organic surface, and cover it with a plastic bag or large bowl/container. If you’re using a lid, make sure it is not closed tightly, as the mycelium needs to be able to breathe a little.
Mycelium prefers darker environments, but some light is ok.
You might notice some mushrooms trying to grow!! While they prefer environments with fresh air movement (not closed containers), they will still try to grow.
If you notice green mold, that is a sign of contamination. It is not extremely common at this phase, but it does happen occasionally. You can try to remove the affected area, but it is an indication that it is time to start drying your part to prevent it from spreading further.
If you notice green mold, that is a sign of contamination. It is not extremely common at this phase, but it does happen occasionally. You can try to remove the affected area, but it is an indication that it is time to start drying your part to prevent it from spreading further.
Keep the form covered for 4-7 days, until it is covered in fuzzy white mycelium. If you keep it covered longer, shiitake mycelium will slowly turn from white to brown.
DRYING
Place the form in a dry place, in front of a fan or space heater for about a week or until it feels like there is no moisture left in the mycelium. To speed up the process, you can place the form in the oven on a baking sheet at a very low temperature for a few hours with the door open (~180°F or less).
ADDING THE BASE AND FINISHING DETAILS
Now it’s time to add the final touches. Drop the mycelium form into the aluminum base. Level your form within the base. Add the screws into the tapped holes, and screw in all the way. The screws will dig into the mycelium form in order to secure it to the base.
Depending on if you’re doing a candle holder or a tray, insert the aluminum plates into the top of the form.
You’re ready to use your myco object!
Note: For the first few weeks, keep the object in a well ventilated space, as some moisture might still be inside
If you have any questions, or if you want to send us some feedback, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at hello@10thfloor.studio or on instagram @10thfloor.studio