Timcelium XE417
As part of the research project «Timcelium», CLB Switzerland is developing a novel sandwich panel made of (residual) wood and mycelium.
The aim is to create a bio-based and circular alternative to the currently dominant sandwich panels made of metal and polyisocyanurate foams, which are used in industrial and hall construction.
The living cabin serves as a mobile demonstrator and shows the practical applicability of this innovative material composite.
Why mycelium?
The need for a paradigm shift
Building materials account for approximately 10% of Switzerland's greenhouse gas footprint (FOEN, 2022). In light of the climate crisis and the associated net-zero target for 2050, the construction sector must drastically reduce its CO₂ emissions.
Bio-based materials are ideally suited for this purpose, and mycelium, the root system of fungi, offers a lightweight, biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics and composites.
Furthermore, since the timber construction industry is still heavily focused on linear systems, which primarily require sawable timber, we present a forward-looking approach with the combination of residual wood with mycelium.
Interested in
joining the research?
We are looking for research partners.
Call or send an email:
+41 76 5 100 300
The material
Mycelium-wood composite panels
The core of the research project is the development of a sandwich panel made of wood and a mycelium core. This material system offers the following advantages for construction:
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Resource efficiency: The panels can be manufactured with minimal material usage, using Swiss industrial and residual wood. The weight per unit area of the 40 mm thick panels is just under 15 kg/m².
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Recyclability: The design follows the principles of "Design for Disassembly (DfD)" and is therefore completely separable and requires no fossil-based adhesives. This enables the components to be recovered and recycled by type. Used mycelium plates can be used as raw material for new plates at a rate of 30-40%.
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Low CO₂ footprint: By using wood and mycelium as CO₂ -neutral raw materials, the ecological footprint is significantly reduced compared to conventional sandwich panels. While the production of hot-rolled steel emits approximately 1.5 tons of CO₂ per ton of product (WV Stahl, 2021), industrial mycelium materials have an extremely low CO₂ footprint during production.
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Robustness and durability: An exterior cladding of pressure-treated birch and the geometrically advantageous, curved shape increase the service life. The principle of repairability according to the principles of "Design for Repair (DfR)" facilitates maintenance and upkeep.
Functions of mycelium in construction
In the context of construction, as demonstrated by the living cabin, the mycelium content in the sandwich panel fulfills the following functions:
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Thermal and acoustic insulation: The mycelium core fills the cavities of the panel, providing thermal and acoustic insulation. This results in excellent living comfort and good energy efficiency for the cabin. The thermal conductivity is approximately 0.04 W/mK.
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Dimensional stability under vibration: Unlike cellulose or some fiber insulation boards, which tend to compress under vibration and create gaps in the insulation, the mycelium board remains dimensionally stable and ensures a continuous insulation layer.
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Optimized building physics: Thermal bridges are minimized by consistently avoiding metal components. The 40 mm mycelium layer chosen for the cabin contributes to a slim and efficient wall construction.
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Lightweight construction: The mycelium used contributes to the resource-efficient and weight-optimized overall construction due to its low weight of just under 170 kg/m³.
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CO₂ storage: The use of wood enables the storage of atmospheric CO₂ over the entire service life of the building components.
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Potential binder: The research focuses on the potential of mycelium as a natural binder to fix the outer layers of wood in the future without mechanical bonding.
The Timcelium cabin
A laboratory on wheels
The Timcelium cabin is a fully functional expedition cabin, the centerpiece of which is an innovative sandwich panel made of wood and mycelium. As a first step, the construction of this living cabin allowed us to test its practical implementation and make comparisons to conventional materials.
As a demonstration space, it now makes the research results obtained in the project tangible. Mounting it on a Unimog allows for comprehensive testing of the mycelium-wood panels' resilience under harsh conditions – particularly for evaluating dynamic loads, vibrations, and varying climatic influences.
For more information, visit our blog Timcelium XE417 .
FSC certification
The living cabin is fully FSC project-certified (FSC® P002085). This confirms that all wood materials used come from responsibly managed forests ( the project contains less than 2% non-FSC-certified materials) .
This certification provides internationally recognized proof of the origin of wood for construction projects, without requiring all project participants to be FSC-certified themselves.
More information about FSC project certification
Want to be part of it?
We are looking for research partners for our current Technical Implementation Project, within the framework of the SWEET Call Net-Zero from the Federal Office of Energy and the Federal Office for the Environment.
Call or send an email:
+41 76 5 100 300 olin.bartlome@clblimited.com
Photos: CLB Schweiz GmbH, Mycrobez AG