The Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (a joint initiative between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities) is creating ‘The Living Room’ – a soft, cosy, snug internal space with thick sculpted walls. The structure itself is grown from fungal mycelium, sawdust, and wool. This innovative technique uses organic, locally available waste materials and microbial processes to radically reduce the environmental impact of construction, while asking us to reconsider the relationship between the built and natural environments.