Mycelium | Zain Ansari

Zain Ansari is the founder of Phyta Biodesign, a London-based architecture and biomaterials studio developing building products that support both people and local ecology. Phyta Biodesign works at the intersection of architecture, material research, and biodiversity, with a focus on mycelium-based systems that can be integrated into existing buildings and new construction. One of the firm’s early areas of work centers on formed mycelium components designed to create habitat and support for bees in urban and workplace settings.

On The Grove podcast by Earth Onward, Zain discussed how Phyta Biodesign approaches the built environment as a shared habitat rather than a space designed only for human use. In the episode “Building for Bees with Mycelium,” he explained how the company develops and installs mycelium materials, why bees are a practical starting point for biodiversity-focused design, and how ecological benefits can be communicated in ways that resonate with property owners, tenants, and developers. He also shared how Phyta’s work spans retrofits and new projects, showing how bio-based materials can become part of everyday buildings.