Exkursion to TOP Lab

The third session of the Berlin excursion took place at TOP Lab, an open-science space operating on the base of TOP e.V., dedicated to community biohacking and citizen biology. Alessandro Volpato introduced the lab’s ethos of open-source experimentation, democratic biotechnology access, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The semester topic, Microbial Production Enhanced by Machine Interaction was presented by Mareike, framing the designer as a mediator between living systems and technological components. Mindaugas Gapsevicius (Miga) offered a critical perspective on the biomaterial industry, challenging the “timber model” and advocating for non-human-centered design approaches that integrate ecological perspectives. Alessandro’s introduction to mycology highlighted fungal intelligence and ecological roles, followed by hands-on engagement with biological materials. Highlights included slime mold (demonstrating decentralized decision-making) and mycofoam, a biodegradable mycelium-based alternative to synthetic foams. Other examples were Sylia leather and Mycotetris – interlocking mycelium blocks inspired by the logic of Tetris. After this resident artists and experimentators presented their projects: Silvio explored Cuban modernist architecture forms by molding shiitake mycelium into geometric structures. Alve showcased Amass, using kombucha-derived bacterial cellulose for 3D-printed garments, experimenting with hydrogels for flexible, bio-grown forms. A speculative spirulina algae concept proposed processing human waste into sustainable 3D printing filament, sparking discussion on circular economies and bioremediation. The visit provided insight into the intersection of biology, design, and open-source innovation, emphasizing the potential of microbial and fungal systems as collaborators in material and product development.