A cartilage-like biomaterial is bioengineered by using a self-aggregating suspension cell culture with hydrostatic mechanical force without the use of a scaffold or foreign matrix for cell attachment during culture. The cells in suspension culture may be preconditioned prior to application of the hydrostatic mechanical force, such as hydrostatic pressure, for a period of time in the range of about 1 week to about 10 weeks. The cartilage-like biomaterial shares critical structural, phenotype, and functional characteristics with native, intact cartilage tissue.