Myco: A culinary and scientific retreat Part 1 Project 2025 Pénélope Pomey Carpentier University of Reading | UK Myco is a visionary culinary and scientific retreat that reimagines the intersection of architecture, sustainability, and sensory experience. Set within a within a newly proposed, lush and evolving landscape, it houses a plant-based restaurant and a cutting-edge research lab dedicated to studying Pestalotiopsis Microspora, a fungus capable of breaking down plastic.At its heart, Myco invites guests on a multisensory dining journey through five outdoor spaces, each designed to heighten one of the senses. From tactile mycelium leather plates to the sound of rustling leaves and the scent of surrounding gardens, every element is curated to foster a deeper connection to food and nature.The project champions regenerative design: mushroom cultivation is integrated with water harvesting systems, and the architecture draws from fungal networks, using organic forms and sustainable materials like timber, hempcrete, and clay. Research labs explore fungi’s potential to combat landfill waste, bridging science with ecological renewal.Inspired by it surroundings, Oxford’s historic forms, but rooted in the future, Myco is not just a building, it’s a living ecosystem. It embodies a shift toward circular design, scientific innovation, and sensory awareness, shaping a more connected and sustainable world. Tutor(s) Michelle Tomlinson