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All-natural elephant skin-inspired fungi tiles offer up to 70% more cooling for buildings | The bumpy surface of these tiles improves cooling by 70% in wet conditions compared to flat mycelium tiles.

Researchers have developed fungal mycelium-based tiles that are more energy efficient than conventional building insulation materials. The tiles have an elephant skin pattern, which helps them regulate heat effectively.

Building on this proven insulating property, the NTU Singapore team worked with local ecology and biomimicry design firm bioSEA to add a bumpy, wrinkly texture to the tile, mimicking an elephant’s ability to regulate heat from its skin. Based on these findings, the scientists recommended installing the tiles with the flat side adhered to the building façade and the textured surface exposed to external heat for optimal thermal performance. Reference: Soh E, Loh N, Teoh JH, Jain A, Le Ferrand H. Biodegradable mycelium tiles with elephant skin inspired texture for thermal regulation of buildings.

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