BIOPHILIA & MORPHOGENESIS __________________________________________towards a human – oriented architecture
SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE
Biophilic morphogenesis is an art that seeks to understand the real geometric nature of the world, and to use the collective, emergent art of the built environment to play that portal role _ _ not to sum up in total as a stand-alone work of great art, the nature of the universe; but rather, to be a door to it, from everyday experience and everyday culture. Architecture is good to the extent of being fit for the uses to which it is applied. Falling Water by Frank Llyod Wright
In making art, one should not destroy cities, or damage the quality of life in them. One should rather make them better in some rational, sensible way; one should revive science in architecture. A new, human-oriented architecture combines the best qualities of traditional architecture with the latest technological and scientific advances. By understanding how to generate "life" in built structures, we can drastically improve the way buildings and cities relate to people. The search, which we make for this quality, in our own lives, is the crux of any individual person's story. The character of buildings and towns is established by certain patterns of events that keep on happening there. Going by Christopher Alexander, the more living patterns there are in a place - a room, a building, or a town - the more it comes to life as an entirety, the more it glows, the more it has that self maintaining fire. Surprisingly, this is much closer to the original modernist project than is today’s despairing neo-modernism. It is a revival and a continuation of the project of human progress; it is a denial of the artificial segregation of art and science; and it is a determined project to capture technology and make it obedient to human ends, rather than accept the hegemony of an Ellulian technique. Collaborations between biology and architecture are necessary not only in the narrow context of the present discussion but also because they can help to orient designing towards ecologically compatible outcomes.
The Cycle of Bio-inspired Architecture Start with Distilling the Design Function simply by asking what do you want your design to do and keep asking, why do you want your design to do that? Follow it up by translating it to biology by identifying the functions and comparing them with how nature does that, especially in the context of habitat conditions. Sum it up with translating life’s principles into design parameters! After one is through with Distilling the Design Function and translating it to biology, the next set of dos includes _ _ discovering Natural Models on both literal and metaphorical planes, simply by combing the literature and brainstorming with biologists. _ going back to emulate Nature’s Strategies with your designs and explore more strategies! Finally, Evaluate Your Design against Life’s Principles by asking, ”Can your design adapt, evolve and create conditions conducive to life? How you can improve your design?” [Derived from Mearon Okonsky]
In architecture, morphogenesis is understood as a group of methods that employ digital media not as representational tools for visualization but as generative tools for the derivation of form and its transformation often in an aspiration to express contextual processes in built form.
Some buildings are now specifically planned with “natural” and “organic” elements in the hopes that people who have to work in them will feel more at ease and be more productive. This provides a great difference from the typical “cubical” style office of the past. The California based company AutoDesk, has been known for its liberal work practices in this respect. Biophilia (coined by Harvard Biologist Edward O. Wilson in 1984), reaches into the human desire for an affinity with nature on both the meta- and individual levels. It is based more in the appreciation of nature. It is more on a spiritual/emotional plane rather than a quantitative/measured level. The following quote is an extrapolation on this concept: “Architecture needs the existence of something old and permanent, like the cycle of the years, the rhythm of the moon, the majesty of the streams, or the old moss-covered rock. I feel that the most important aspect in modern architecture is the attempt to make man re-discover these fundamental values” __ Aulis Blomstedt, 1950-70 Biophilia is the belief that natural light should be maximized in a building for humanitarian/health purposes while Biomimicry finds a more outward aesthetic expression in systems. The concept of Biomimicry is embedded in Biophilia. The Finnish Architect, Alvar Alto worked primarily in the first half of the 20th century, dreamed of an architecture without style, buildings determined only by the diverse needs of the people using them and the conditions dictated by the building site, the materials available and financial considerations. “Biophilic design recognizes the inherent human need for nature together with sustainable and universal design strategies to create environments that truly enhance life.” Biophilic design attributes are elements and qualities of the physical environment that connect us to the physical, psychological, and cognitive benefits derived from direct experiences with nature. Such as _ dynamic natural light, natural ventilation, access to open and / or moving water, frequent opportunities for spontaneous interaction with nature, sensory connections with nature, complexity and order, mystery, prospect and refuge, fundamental natural forms, and local natural materials. “Nature, biology, offers profuse and luxuriant forms; with the same constructions, same tissues and same cellular structures it can produce millions and millions of combinations, each of which is a high level of form” __ Alvar Alto, 1935 Though Alto's words are from long ago, we are now more widely accepting that we need to incorporate sustainable architecture, design, and daily choices into the fabric of cities. The status of a building is changing; it is a crucial participant in our uphill battle for sustainability and overall well-being. This natural model is the way to discuss and to design buildings in our milieu. CONCEPT DESIGN BY AUGUSTINE OTCGUI Using NVS Technology
Submitted by Aanchal Vidyasagar
B. Arch - III Year