Threads in the Ground, a pioneering climate hope organization founded and Directed by Adam Cooper, is proud to announce the unveiling of a groundbreaking project: the world’s first fungal book shop. This conceptual installation, part of the broader Mushroom Sculpt project, represents a bold step towards sustainable building practices and artistic innovation.
Mushroom Sculpt is just one of a handful of projects currently delivered by Threads in The Ground, all of which are fostering experimentation with climate change ideas and
technologies through art, creativity and community. Leveraging an emerging eco-material made from fungus and waste products such as straw and paper, Cooper led a series of public participatory workshops to create mycelial blocks, combining scrap cardboard donated by local bookshop and collaborator, The Bound.
The culmination of this collaborative effort will be showcased at The Biscuit Factory art gallery, with the pop-up bookshop’s grand reveal scheduled for the gallery’s Late Shows
program on Friday, May 17. Designed by Stuart Macalister of the award-winning architect firm Heatherwick Studios, the installation promises to captivate visitors with its innovative fusion of art, sustainability, and literature in what the team believes to be the first interpretation of this material into a functioning ‘bookshop’ structure.
Curated by Helen Stanton, owner of three award-winning independent bookshops in the North East and a prominent figure in the literary community, the bookshop installation will feature a carefully curated collection of books. Visitors can expect an immersive experience as they explore the intersection of literature and sustainable architecture within the unique fungal environment.
In addition to browsing the collection, visitors to The Biscuit Factory will have the opportunity to engage in a diverse program of supporting activities, including print exhibitions, book readings, workshops, and an exciting film screening at the nearby Tyneside Cinema.
The Mushroom Sculpt installation will be open to the public at The Biscuit Factory until 23 June, offering a limited-time opportunity to experience this unique interpretation of a ground-breaking future technology.
For more information about Mushroom Sculpt at The Biscuit Factory, visit www.thebiscuitfactory.com/pages/whats-on