Asya Ilgun designs 3D-printed mycelium beehives inspired by the natural relationship between bees and fungi
Asya Ilgun, designer and researcher, has designed a 3D-printed biohybrid beehive made of mycelium and clay, intended to host honeybees and wood-decay fungi in a shared space. A modular and living ecosystem, developed during her residency at WASP.
After winning the Distributed Design Awards 2024, Asya Ilgun was invited to WASP’s headquarters for a two-week residency, during which she used WASP’s technology to further her research on mycelial habitats for bees.
For the fabrication, she used WASP’s LDM 3D printers. The mycelium and clay structures were initially produced with the WASP 40100 LDM, ideal for small-scale experimentation, and later with the WASP 3MT LDM Clay, suitable for printing larger components. The reliability of the machines allowed for continuous geometries, controlled porosity, and structural performance compatible with fungal growth.
Biohybrid Architecture for Bees and Fungi
The beehive designed by Asya Ilgun was conceived as a 3D-printed multispecies habitat, capable of hosting honeybees and mycelium in a shared space. The design is based on a single continuous line, generated by a custom algorithm, which creates a porous and cohesive geometry intended to ensure insulation, ventilation, and structural stability.
Through parametric printing and the use of natural materials, the structure behaves like a living organism. The mycelium colonizes the surface, contributing to the regulation of the internal microclimate and the health of the colony. The beehive thus becomes an ecological, adaptive, and regenerative device, capable of supporting mutualistic relationships over time.
Properties of Mycelium in 3D Printing
The material chosen to print the beehive is the result of a combination of natural elements, designed to interact with both bees and fungi. Clay, plant fibers, and bio-based additives form a mixture that not only supports the 3D printing process but also sustains biological growth over time.
The porous surface ensures breathability and moisture retention, both essential for mycelium. At the same time, the walls provide thermal insulation and protection for the colony, making the material an active component of the habitat.
As bees increasingly inhabit human-altered environments, their reliance on healthy nesting habitats becomes ever more critical. While the loss of floral resources is often emphasized, the importance of nesting sites, where bees spend the majority of their lives, remains largely overlooked. Many wild bees and Apis mellifera depend on substrates such as dead wood and exposed soil, which are frequently removed or degraded in urban and agricultural landscapes.
This project explores how architectural and biological systems can intersect to support bee nesting through fungal biofabrication. By leveraging the mutualistic relationships between bees and wood-decay fungi, it investigates biohybrid nesting structures made from 3D-printed clay and mycelium-based materials. These structures provide thermal insulation, biological activity, and long-term habitat vitality.
Acknowledgements
The material design and fabrication method was developed by Asya Ilgun (Dr.techn.) as part of her doctoral project Living Architecture for (honey)Bees: An Ecosystem Effective Biohybrid Design Framework, funded by the EU project HIVEOPOLIS and carried out at the Artificial Life Lab of the University of Graz and the Architecture and Media department at TU Graz.
3D printer for experimental material research
Asya’s project was printed using the LDM 40100 Production, perfect for research on experimental materials such as mycelium.
