[Gao + Zhou - Mycelial Rebirth: Fungi Restoring Nuclear Wounds - COVER IMG]

Mycelial Rebirth: Fungi Restoring Nuclear Wounds

Firm LocationLos Angeles, United States
CompanyGao + Zhou
Lead ArchitectShengfeng Gao
Design TeamShengfeng Gao, Shengnan Gao, Zhuohan Zhou

Fungi can degrade and clean nuclear radiation. Based on this discovery, this memorial honors a forest once destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Thousands of ultraviolet lights form a grid, guiding visitors while serving as the essential light source for these fungi. Under their glow, mycelium spreads, absorbing and transforming pollutants as the soil heals. Mushrooms and pioneer plants emerge, linking the site back to the surrounding forest. The memorial recalls the wound of the bomb but ultimately embodies the shared healing and renewal of people and nature.