MANIFESTATION OF N
A
T
U
R
E
I N S P I R E D ARCHITECTURE
ALOK TIRKEY
SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE - NEW DELHI ACEDEMIC YEAR
2017-2018
DISSERTATION
Manifestation of Nature ‘Inspired’ Architecture The relevance of ‘nature’ in Architectural Design
AUTHOR : ALOK TIRKEY GUIDED BY : Prof. RAJAPRAKASH CO-ORDINATED BY : Prof. JAYA KUMAR
A/2524/1012
DECLARATION The Reasearch work embodied in this dissertation entiled “MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTE” has been carried out undergraduate dissertation programme in School of Planning and architecture (Department of Architecture -New Delhi) Under the supervission of Prof. Jaya Kumar. The undersigned hereby that this is a original work and has not been plagerized in part or full form from any source.
ALOK TIRKEY FOURTH YEAR UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE NEW DELHI.
ABSTARCT Architecture, being a part of nature is profoundly affected and roused as it is emphatically identified with it. The goal of this Dissertation is for a research to be made in order to identify the relevance of nature as a source of inspiration for architects that enables them to intercorporate as a design concept. A study that follows the historical evidence that shows various degrees of manifestations of nature. Firstly for the Sculptor, Artists, Writers, poets as a form for Art and then for architects to replicate in design forms. Study of Antoni Gaudi’s residence upmarket for Joseph Batllo in Barcelona which was an Arctician influence of nature by this modernist architect followed by various buildings built by architects. Specifically, A case study of Fariborz Sahba’s Bahai house also known as Lotus temple in New Delhi Which was cultural inspiration of nature of the context. Then the selection of journals, books, articles, videos and internet source is used in order for a depth research to be made. Also how the development of civilization and invention of science and technology and advanced materials powered nature’s imitation in design. Finally the implementation of natural elements and use of nature as a source of inspiration has a new efficient way to look over Architecture that is powerful and aesthetically appealing.
AKNOWLEDGMENT I would initially like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Assist. Prof. RajaPraksh for his vast knowledge and invaluable feedback. This dissertation would not have been completed without his support and trust in me. I am also thankful to all my friends; amongst them, my special thanks go to Shikha Kaul, Shashi Suman, Arif Ali for being with me, supporting me and encouraging me through all stages of my study. I should also say my deep thanks to my lovely mom Nirmala Tirkey who has been always my great support throughout my study and she has never left me alone. At last but not least, the deepest thanks go to my family; my parents, for the support they provide me throughout my life. Without their understanding and help this dissertation would remain only a dream. Thank you all‌
....................................................................To My Family
“ Nature is by far the richest source of inspiration and knowledge that we have… “ Antoni Gaudi [arcitect] 1852-1926
CONTENTS Chapter One
Page 01
INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH QUESTION
Chapter Two
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HISTORY OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Page 12
Chapter Three IMITATION
OF
NATURE
IN ARCHITECTURE
Page 18
Chapter Four IMITATION
RESULTS
IN
INNOVATION
Chapter Five
ARCHITECTURE -AN INSPIRATION FROM NATURE
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CASE STUDY -1 Brcelona’s Park Avenue A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY LOTUS TEMPLE AND SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Chapter Six
ANALYSIS AND REASEARCH FINDINGS
Chapter Seven CONCLUTION
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
AND
RESEARCH
QUESTION
The architecture interconnects with nature since the early years of its existence. Architecture has immediate relationship with nature as it is affected in various different ways. Architectural design could be influenced in a practical as well as in an inspirational manner to respond or connect nature. The foremost important and basic context for any structure to be built is nature. Architects usually try to either respond or built with an inspiration from thereby surrounding so as to merge thy building with nature. On the other hand response to contextual environment depending on the factor of weather, culture and geographical conditions. Today Architecture is a definite part of nature and todays factors implies inspiration and imitations of existing architectural features that historical buildings are embedded with. Nature’s adaptation is fairly dependent on the existing features that enables it to gain local elements necessary for its development. Similarly Architectural design undergoes concept from its context and use of local available elements like materials and culture.
Figure 1.1 . The red book(Image: State Archives, NSW) sketch of opera house by Architect Jørn Utzon for Sydney opera house. Page 1
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Figure 1.2 . The red book(Image: State Archives, NSW) sketch of opera house by Architect Jørn Utzon utzon for Sydney opera house.
“To me it is a great joy to know how much the building is loved.”
Jørn Utzon Another important aspect of nature is the weather conditions, climatic conditions are a crucial factor in the design of a building, and it is strictly advisable to be utilized, in order to achieve maximum benefits with a concern for sustainable building functioning. Apart from the fact that nature affects Architecture, it still exist as the one of the important inspiration for design concepts. In other cases, Architects tend to study the process and phenomena of nature for inspiration, and then apply to the building design. Generally this happen in order for the building to be more functional and energy efficient. An example is the way how ants create space in the underground nest in order to the advantage of the higher temperature in contrast to the air temperature using the ground as insulation and saving energy. Based on all affects that nature does, different building designs have been created that does perform well proving inspiration a boon. And finally the nature’s inspiration in architecture, is the form it creates that are volatile, symbolic and infinite degree of geometry.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
RESEARCH QUESTION? How are the different forms in nature manifested as an inspiration in architectural expressions.
AIM To explore the various type of nature’s form manifested in Architectural expressions.
OBJECTIVE 1.
To understand various studies of forms in nature and its geometrical connotations? ( in history)
2.
To classify these form in nature that are manifested in architectural expressions?
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
LIMITATIONS 1. The study would limit to form adapted in components of architecture as a whole, irrespective style, period of time. 2.
This dissertation would be limited to available information like literature, case studies.
SCOPE
• The scope of this study / dissertation is an appreciative and an explorative exercise and not a prescriptive one. • The study focus on various nature forms adopted and try’s to comprehend the exploration and the comprehension is not the end in itself. And nature form would be the key to the argument. • The scope of the word “architectural expressions” expands to anything that give or influence the architectural experiences, such as surface treatments, carving, sculptural additions, and the building form as a whole.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research is being carried out with an observation that through the time, human activity and development had strongly interacted and got inspired by nature. But during the research with a question more sub-question emerge. What is the definition of ‘nature’ and Architectural form and design function? And why is nature a source of inspiration for design? In the first section of dissertation, first part will define architectural form and design with its concept idea is discussed with help of historical evidences. And in the second part, will be mentioned the main source of inspiration, the ways nature affected architecture during the history with help of buildings and their source of inspiration. A brief analysis will be made from the concept idea of the great monuments of architecture. Furthermore Research will conclude the basic idea of concept behind the inspiration by architects of the period. In the second section Research is made in order to predict and find out the reasons that architects developed for nature’s inspiration for their design. And this will be followed by studying imitations from nature and then comparing it on the basis of form and functions and preparing an analysis of various degrees under which manifestations of nature exists. Not only the physical but biological processes and phenomenon are also a source of inspiration. In the third section a case study of lotus inspired building in DelhiLotus temple is thoroughly studied with various aspects of inspirations and an analysis of Research findings is prepared with a conclution.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE SURVEY
HISTORY
OF
NATURE
INSPIRED
ARCHITECTURE
2.1 EVOLUTION AND INSPIRATION In the late 19th Century, Antoni Gaudi was deeply influenced by the atmosphere of forests for the interior of his masterpiece, the ‘Sagrada Familia’ cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. A century or so later, cutting edge “biomimetic” (drawing on nature in design) architecture is even incorporating living matter into its structures. The Netherland’s ‘Sportplaza’ Mercator for example, is host to lush vegetation and the species utilizing this on its eye-popping façade. And in Germany, the extraordinary “algae house” harnesses microalgae as a renewable energy source by growing it in transparent surfaces.
Figure 2.1 Gaudi was much inspired by forest canopy for his Sagrada Famila design (Credit: nagelestock.com / Alamy Stock Photo)
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Nature is by far the richest source of inspiration and knowledge that we have Over the decades, the field of biomimetics has shifted from looking towards nature for overall shape. Sea creatures, crab shells and spider webs are among the species and natural artefacts architects have looked to for such inspiration, says Dr Marcos Cruz, an architect and reader at University College London’s (UCL) Bartlett School of Architecture, UK. Now, he explains, the industry is moving towards a more “environmentally nature inspired understanding” of how nature responds to its environment and how humans can do the same. A major driver for architects looking ever-more closely to the natural world for construction lessons is the pressing need to build with limited resources in the face of shrinking material and energy supplies. “We have to make buildings that do more, using less… The example of where that works the best is nature itself,” says Dr Rupert Soar, a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, UK and engineer at company 3D Blume. “Nature is always fighting to use limited resource most effectively to exist with, and we are entering that era ourselves.” Soar himself studies termite mounds to see how we too can create cleverly designed ventilated buildings that use minimal energy,
Figure 2.2 Tunneling termites are masters at creating air exchange systems to ventilate their mounds (Credit: Bill Bachman / Almay Stock Photo)much like these extraordinary little insects have already perfected.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
“We’re dedicated to trying to understanding how termites build because we believe that we can make buildings as good, as clever as termite mounds for our own buildings,” he tells BBC Earth.For Cruz, we still have much to learn from nature: “In a way current buildings are still very crude when compared with what nature does.”And he adds: “Nature is by far the richest source of inspiration and knowledge that we have.”
Figure 2.3 Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe Green Building in Zimbabwe Modeled After Termite Mounds.
We generally think of termites as destroying buildings, not helping design them. But the Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe, has an internal climate control system originally inspired by the structure of termite mounds. Further research is revealing more about the relationship between mound structure and internal temperature, and could influence additional building designs as our understanding grows. The operation of buildings represents 40% of all the energy used by humanity, so learning how to design them to be more sustainable is vitally important. Architect Mick Pearce collaborated with engineers at Arup Associates to design Eastgate, which uses 90% percent less energy for ventilation than conventional buildings its size, and has already saved the building owners over $3.5 million dollars in air conditioning costs.
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2.2 EFFECT ON ARCHITECTURE From Art Nouveau(1890-1914) to Neo-Futurism The name ‘Art nouvean’ is a French term for ‘new arts’ this moment was international that approached ‘Art’ and ‘Design’ as a lifestyle, making art as a part of everyday life .This led to the breakdown of barriers between the applied arts and fine arts like architecture decorative arts. The Art Nouveau Movement Influenced Architecture such that imitation of nature being carried out to a rich detail that could possess almost same characteristics as the inspiration. The approach was that that elements and detail explains the existence of nature on the first site. As a result it manipulates well to an extent until a passerby identifies it as a building that may be residence, institution etc.
Figure 2.4
Antonio Gaudi 1852- 1926 Casa Batlló (1904-6)
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
The building was designed by Gaudí for Josep Batlló, a wealthy aristocrat, as an upmarket home. Señor Batlló lived in the lower two floors with his family and the upper floors were rented out as apartments From the outside the façade of Casa Batlló looks like it has been made from skulls and bones. The "Skulls" are in fact balconies and the "bones" are supporting pillars. Gaudí used colours and shapes found in marine life as inspiration for his creativity in this building e.g. the colours chosen for the façade are those found in natural coral.
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CHAPTER THREE IMITATION
OF
NATURE
IN
ARCHITECTURE
3.1 Definition of Architecture
“Architecture is the scientific art of making structure express ideas. Architecture is the triumph of human imagination over materials, methods, and men to put man into possession of his own earth. Architecture is man’s great sense of himself embodied in a world of his own making. It may rise as high in quality only as its source because great art is great life.” —Frank Lloyd Wright, from the Architectural Forum,
“It is about creating buildings and spaces that inspire us, that help us do our jobs, that bring us together, and that become, at their best, works of art that we can move through and live in. And in the end, that is why architecture can be considered the most democratic of art forms.” mony Speech
—2011, President Barack Obama, Pritzker Cere-
Despite these definitions one can essentially understand that Architecture is an art and it is the philosophy behind the design of a building that makes it functional , efficient ,combined with its environmental context by use of well thought design form , materiallity and structure in order to built.
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
3.2 Definition of Nature It will be attempted to understand what exactly it is meant when someone refers to nature, what is the meaning of word ‘nature’ and which element in physical world belongs to nature. “Nature is the phenomenon of physical world collectively , plant , animals and physical features and product on earth as opposed to human and human creation” -Oxford Dictionaries Nature incorporated in architecture is as form or function is termed organic architecturere. Definition of Organic Architecture: “A philosophy of architectural design, emerging in the early 20th cent., asserting that in structure and appearance a building should be based on organic forms and should harmonize with its natural environment.”
3.3 IMATATION AS A FORM OF GEOMETRY
Geometry, Nature & Architecture All of nature evolves out of simple geometric patterns incorporated within the molecular "seed" structure. Each of these basic patterns contains information that enables animals, plants, minerals (and humans) to develop into complex and beautiful forms, each with an intrinsic awareness of its location in space and time. Being part of nature, we have a relationship with it at the cellular level which is experienced vibration ally, and which is nurturing. When these seed patterns are incorporated into our architecture, a vibrational exchange takes place between the building and its occupants in a way that is similar to the connection we have with nature, and which leads to a sense of wellbeing.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Figure 3.1
In this example, six basic elements of geometry (point, segment, ray, line, angle, and triangle) have been identified within the PyrHow many three-dimensional shapes (cube, tetrahedron, cylinder, etc.) can you find in this computer graphic of the Parthenon? Can you find the “Golden Sections” within?
Figure 3.2
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
The Golden Section The Golden Section refers to rectangles that have a ratio of 1:1.6. This means that if the width of a rectangle is 1 foot long, the length will be 1.6 feet long. (The number 1.6 is sometimes referred to as "phi", and it looks like the letter o with a line through it (ø). The Golden Section (or Golden Ratio or Golden Mean or Golden Rectangle) appears in a lot of ancient Greek architecture and has been analyzed extensively by the famous mathematician Fibonacci. The ratio of 1:1.6 is said to be "pleasing to the eye."
Geometry and Nature In the world of natural phenomena, it is the underlying patterns of geometric form, proportion and associated wave frequencies that give rise to all perceptions and identifications. Therein lies our fundamental capacity to relate, to interpret and to know. Most of the interpretations are of a graphic nature.
Figure 3.3 different forms in nature
Our ability to create music and interpret sounds is initially a mechanical interpretation of wave patterns, not through quantitative differences but proportional differences. The architecture of the buildings we inhabit as our dwellings, our work places, our healing and education centres, and our churches and temples, has similar impact on our senses as the architecture of nature. In understanding how this connection between nature and man made objects works, one should considered the meaning of numbers and their associated geometric forms.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Geometry in Architecture One Begets Two - The Essence of Duality If we look at the geometry the circle represents God, the circumference being that which encompasses all that is, and the area being all that is. All geometric forms that evolve out of prime numbers are contained within the circle, for it is the circle that defines their symmetry. Implicit within a circle, and its most fundamental product or creation is its diameter. The diameter is a straight line it defines two points (at its ends, which lie on the circumference), thus symbolising duality or polar opposites. Three Is The Power Behind Creation The next step in creation, moving from 2 points on the circumference of a circle is 3 points. When these are in symmetry with each other, they define the equilateral triangle. Three linear structural elements connected together at their end points form a rigid frame - a fundamental engineering principle. The triad or trinity in esoteric terms expresses a rigid structure, and demonstrates the stability within creation by virtue of the principles of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All subsequent steps in creation contain triangles. Four Is Manifestation Into Matter Next we have four, the square, symbolizing creation in matter. The square defines the four directions of north, south, east and west, and in its 3-dimensional form, the cube (contained within a sphere) defines the 3 directions of 3-dimensional reality. The square and the cube represent physical manifestation unevolved. The potential that lies within them is implicit. Involution - Five Is The Potential Contained Within Matter The next step with five, brings consciousness into matter by virtue off, the golden proportion. Five points equally spaced on the circumference of a circle give rise to the pentagon, within which lies the pentagram or 5-pointed star. This is generally accepted as representing man - the head, two legs astride, and two arms outstretched. Evolution - Six Harnesses The Power Of Spirit And Brings It Into Matter Whereas 5 expresses the potential for harmony hidden within the world of matter is explicit in its representation of symmetry and balance. The hexagon has all its diagonals passing through the centre of the circle and equal to the diameter. A similar relationship between God and His creations in matter can be seen in the Vesica Piscis, where two circles overlap. A connection exists in these two symbols because the Vesica is the geometric basis for establishing the hexagram. The Vesica thus expresses the powerful potential in mankind to achieve harmony through the blending of the masculine and feminine qualities. The overlap area has traditionally been seen as a fish or the Piscean Christ.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
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CHAPTER FOUR IMITATION
RESULTS
IN
INNOVATION
This chapter aims to brings out how historical innovations of immitation from nature has resulted to mordern turn of thought for development of the new architecture era. These are forms in nature that human could easily connect to nature as they directly tend to immitate nature . In this section, the early and new forms of the are discussed under the name and the modern and futuristic architecture. To achieve this, architectural form as designed by mordern architects and its complete forms are examined with the art of the forms and the architectonics components of the structural systems. Architects perception are tried to cover with overview of users with the relation of the natural forms with in their context, and at the end of this chapter the human made architectural forms tabulated which are used in later chapters to find out the new modeling for optimizing of the architectural design products.
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
PHILOSOPHY OF IMITATION BY ANTONI GAUDI ‘Sagrada Familia’ -A large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona
Antoni Gaudi’s stunning buildings in Barcelona, Spain, remain a legacy to his life-long belief that we need look no further than nature to see construction at its supreme. The most ambitious of his works is the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Gaudi took over design in 1883 and the building is due to be finished in 2026, 100 years after his death (tragically, he was hit by a tram and died days later on 10 June 1926, aged 73).
Figure 4.1. Aisle canopy view of church(Credit: All Canada Photos / Alamy Stock Photo)
The cathedral’s awesome interior is inspired by the idea of a forest that invites prayer.Tree-like columns branch off near the roof for support, and in-between skylights contain green and gold glass to reflect light. Enhancing the feeling of standing on a forest floor and Gaudi's plan to create a contemplative atmosphere are large coloured glass windows letting in dappled sunlight.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
MORERN EXAMPLES OF INNOVATION BY SOME RENOWNED ARCHITECTS .
Kunsthaus Graz - Austria Dr Marcus Cruz, who was involved with planning the Kunsthaus in Austria along with main architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier says the building took inspiration from natural forms but didn’t mimic them exactly. Like some colossal, stranded deep-sea blob, the biomorphic Kunsthaus Graz rises up amid angular, red-roofed buildings.
Figure 4.2. Birds eye view of Kunsthaus in austria (Credit: LOOK Die Bildagentur der Fotografen GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)
Cruz’s own research included looking at microscopic images of sea creatures. “We always imagined it as a building that was responsive," he says. "So the nozzles that exist on the roof that are very distinct – they were supposed to move and interact with the sun. And we always thought about the skin as being like a creature – creating areas of opacity and transparency and translucency, and it would vary according to these environmental changes and changes of use.” “So the building was really seen as a sort of biotechnological creature, rather than a traditional building, an inert building.”
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Milwaukee Art Museum The elegant Milwaukee Art Museum’s most eye-catching feature is its huge sunscreen roof – the Burke Brise Soleil – which is reminiscent of great white wings thanks to an open and closing mechanism controlling the 90 tonne screen. Architect Santiago Calatrava wanted to incorporate both the urban and natural features of Lake Michigan, which the building overlooks, and took into account the “culture” of the lake front including boats and sails.
Figure 4.2. Entrance view of Milwaukee art meuseum (Credit: LOOK Die Bildagentur der Fotografen GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)
Gabriel Tang, an architect and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, describes why this US building is among his favourites: “Although expensive and technically complex, this is a delightful way in which architecture can be inspired by observations and ideas from nature to create pieces which are interestingly functional, functionally practical, and practically beautiful.” He adds: “I love the direct and straight-forward legibility of the building. The opening or closing mechanism is gracefully poetic, but yet performs a function – that of protection.”
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Downland Gridshell Building- Singleton, Chichester, UK The Weald and Downland Gridshell is a building designed by Buro Happold and Edward Cullinan Architects for the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum: it was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 2002. The light and airy Downland Gridshell Building, part of the Weal & Downloand Open Air Museum in Singleton, Chichester, UK was completed in 2002 and uses oak laths bent into shape to create the double-curvature, lightweight shell structure.
Figure 4.4. Birs nest construction -interior view (Credit: Steve Speller / Alamy Stock Photo)
“This is perhaps not a building that was inspired by natural observations but with its timber cladding on the outside and being located within the woods, this building strikes a very close relationship to its natural setting and has been described by critics and architects themselves as an armadillo,” says Tang. Tang, having worked extensively with gridshell design, explains lightweight shells such as those seen in the Downland Gridshell Building, are typically made with timber or steel. “Imagine how a bird creates a nest from separate pieces of straw. These structures usually have light-filled interiors but because of the number of connections, can be difficult to make weather-tight.”
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CHAPTER FIVE ARCHITECTURE
-AN
INSPIRATION
FROM
NATURE
The Casa Batlllo-Barcelona’s Park Avenue CASE STUDY - I
(1904-1906)
Introduction Casa Batlló, a six-story townhouse is in the very heart of Barcelona’s Park Avenue. It is a complete package to prove imitation of nature in architecture beause of its pure symbolism, a canvas of marine inspiration, a dream world, which evokes nature with its organic elements and is ever lasting symbol for architects. History and Neighborhood Cassa Batllo was a new design built on a former structure of a residence for a wealthy family that wanted to compete in having a predominant mansion. While neighboring other famous buildings designed by famous architects of the time. Casa Batllo was the last of the escalating architectural works that created a utopia of modernism. Each casa was built in attempt to upstage the neighbors. “Casa Batlló is beautiful. And it fits right into the neighborhood. Only a genius could have pulled this off.” source(P. J. O’Rourke – Atlantic Magazine)
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Figure 5.1. Barcelona context plan showing casa batllo with context competitor mansions
EXTERIOR IMITATION OF NATURE “The breathtaking exterior begins with the massive sandstone columns sampling from such natural forms as bones or flowers stems. The first three floors were where Gaudi concentrated most of his expensive materials, particularly the elaborately carved sandstone. The first two floors extend farther to the street than the others. Thus, this creates a leaning effect that is only accentuated the façade’s ceaseless undulations. Casa Batllo features no edges or right angles.; Gaudi had the old brick chipped away and replaced with a mosaic skin of lime, mortar, and broken pieces of tile and glass. This is a technique often used by Gaudi” (Ben Glick – Modernism and Architecture) Different aspects of the façade are resembles of natural objects and natural forms, such as bones (columns), masks (balconies), dragon, reptilian creature, ocean (roof), flower stems and so on It should be noted that the roof does a superb job of capping the near formless façade by producing horizontally undulating lines that effectively run perpendicular to the other waves. This provides the necessary contrast to the free form façade; thus, giving it shape, as a beach or harbor gives shape and form to the sea.
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Figure 5.2
Figure 5.3
Nature and Natural Forms
Gaudi said, “Everything that any architect could need… Is already in natural forms in nature.” This is surely the source he referenced when designing Casa Batllo. He also said “Those who look for the Laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator.” Also he believes that he had always the inspiration, and nature showed him God’s engineering. All building is a metaphor of nature or the sampling of natural forms.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Figure 5.4
The building is composed of familiar natural forms, arranged in a completely new and surreal way. Shapes that are simultaneously familiar and strange. Like the delicate sandstone columns of the facade which evoke both human tibias and delicate flowers. Natural forms are abstracted so that they create a fundamental ambiguity resulting a dreamlike quality for the house. Traditional historic elements such as turret, dragon like roof, stained glass window add up to level of fantasy in architecture. Names like house of bones or house of yawn are products of using natural symbols and building an organic architecture.
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Figure 5.5
Figure 5.6
Interior and Exterior life “All of Gaudi’s works, however outwardly unruly, proceed from internal discipline.“ Casa Batllo instills visitors with a surreal feeling. “The interior mirrors the exterior”. As we saw on exterior there are curves and smooth angles in each and every corner. The space is organic, wide, open and expansive. There are lots of dreamlike fantasy features like curves, colors, windows and stained glass windows. The interior is full of details and materiality even more designed that the exterior and the interior space is just “as alive as it appears from the street”. People say it’s the façade that catches your attention but the interior captures your imagination.
Figure 5.7
Figure 5.8
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Figure 5.9
Figure 5.10
Flowing Architecture What Gaudi has done in his project is a type of in-between when the gothic is transferring to modernism and this type is neither a gothic architecture nor a modern one. As a result of using Islamic, gothic and baroque forms for years an abstract form of nature in an organic language was emerged in this building. As Gaudi believes that a house of god should stand on its own he considered gothic imperfect because it was based on supports by elements which were not primary parts of the building. And the solution for Gaudi was nature where natural forms of plants and animals where self stable, both formal and functional.
Figure 5.11
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
By this the gothic architecture was developed and the light was added to the space. Gaudi’s style encompasses all that defines the Art Nouveau, a School of French decorative artists from the 1890s who took influence from sinuous shapes in plants and nature. He explored his interests in flowing shapes, patterns and colors in the Casa Batlló.
Figure 5.12
Casa Batllo is a bridge from gothic and traditional architecture to modernism and this building is considered as a premier modernist building. Gaudi tends to use new materials and techniques and new technical solutions and many natural forms and symbolism. However, the truly impressive thing about Casa Batllo is not the presence of these individual elements, but the unequivocal unity with which they were assembled
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A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
-AUSTRALIA (1959-1973)
THE LOTUS (BAHAI) TEMPLE
- INDIA (1976-1986)
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE - WORLD STAGE FOR PERFORMING ART Jon Ut zon- a Denmark based Architect designed Sydney Opera House. He was a relatively unknown 38 year old Dane in January 1957 when his entry was announced winner of the international competition to design a ‘national opera house’ for Sydney’s Bennelong Point.
Figure 5.13 sketch showuing form for sydney opera house (www.sydneyoperahouse.com)
Jon vision for a sculptural, curved building on the Harbour broke radically with the cube and rectangular shapes of modernist architecture. The building transformed his career and, in turn, transformed the image of an entire nation.
Figure 5.14 Geometric representation of opera house shell.(www.sydneyoperahouse.com)
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
EVOLUTION OF FORM Jon aimed to represent a principle fundamental to the architecture of Jørn Utzon : He draws inspiration from nature for organic form and creates an architecture that is predominantly experiential in character.
Figure 5.15
Geometric inspiration of opera house shell.(www.sydneyopera-
PRINCIPLES : Jon sub-cetegorizes the imitation drawn out of nature for design concept : - THE BUILDING AS SYMBOL - THE BUILDING AS SCULPTURE - FORM AND FUNCTI ON - ORIENTAT ON AND MOVEMENT -ADDITIVE ARCHITECTURE - ELEMENTS - PRE- FABRI CATI ON - GEOMETRY - STRUCTURAL - EXPRESSI ON - MATERI ALS - COLOUR - LI GHT - ACOUSTI CS Within the broad framework of drawing inspiration from nature and seeking an architecture that is experiential in character, a set of design principles specific to the Sydney Opera House can be identified.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURAL IMITATION OF NATURE
Figure 5.16 -sydney
Miniature Model for opera
Figure 5.17 PLAN (www.sydneyoperahouse.com)
Jon Utzon had a Nordic sense of concern for nature which, in his design, emphasized the synthesis of form, material and function for social values. His fascination with the architectural legacies of the ancient Mayas, the Islamic world, China and Japan enhanced his vision.This developed into what Utzon later referred to as Additive Architecture, comparing his approach to the growth patterns of nature. A design can grow like a tree, he explained :
“If it grows naturally,the architecture will look after itself.�
Figure 5.18 truction
shell of opera house during con-
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LOTUS
TEMPLE
-
BAHAI
RELEGIOUS
HOUSE
OF
WORSHIP
Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian Architect designed it. As described by him –The Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’is, put out a call to architects around the world to submit their designs for this building. And he was called up as a result building was designed and construction started in 1976 and ended in 1986. (Rizor
Figure 5.19 A GEOMETRIIC IIMITATION OF LOTUS Canadian architect Arthur Erickson describes it as
“one of the most remarkable achievements of our time, proving that the drive and vision of spirit can work miracles.” It is the main temple of the Bahai faith, known as “Lotus Temple” (Lotus Temple) “Lotus Bahapur” or “Bahá’í Temple”, although his real name is “Baha’i House of Worship” (“Baha ‘i House of Worship “).
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Inspiration – Sacred Flower Lotus Situation:
The temple was built in the village of Bahapur, Kalkaji, South Delhi and west of Connaught Place, Mandir Marg in a secluded from the busy center of the capital of India.
Concept: In Hindu architecture, you may find that despite external differences between the various temples, one factor is common that they offer significant and sacred symbols common to all religions of India, symbols that have extended even to other countries and religions. One of these nature’s symbols is the sacred flower of the Indians, “the lotus”. Conceptually inspired this flower symbolizes purity and holiness in the Hindu tradition is that the architect Fariborz Sahba developed the project to this temple. This concept had to be converted to defined geometric shapes such as spheres, cylinders, toroids and cones, which translate into equations subsequently used as a basis for structural analysis and engineering drawings. The resulting geometry was so complex that it took two and a half years to complete the plans for the temple.
Influence:
The temples of the Baha’i Faith are well known for their architectural splendor, and the temple built in Delhi is a continuation of this rich tradition. Before embarking on the design.
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From the Architect: “I was looking for a concept that would be acceptable to the people of all different backgrounds that abound with such rich diversity in India. I wanted to design something new and unique; at the same time not strange but rather familiar, something which any human being would find spiritual and intuitively find some sort of relationship with it in their hearts. I began without preconceptions, ready for ideas. I visited almost a hundred temples all over India to discover a concept that would integrate the spiritual heritage of this sub-continent. As I delved deeper and deeper into the cultural and architectural heritage of the country, I became profoundly fascinated by the task before me.”
Figure 5.20 The inner Shell –Geometric order following The temple gives the impression of a lotus flower ajar, afloat, surrounded by leaves. Each component of the temple was repeated nine times. For the Indian taste, Lotus has always been the most beautiful flower, enjoying unprecedented popularity along and breadth of India from the earliest times to the present day, as demonstrated in literature and art, appearing in the oldest monuments of architecture of Hinduism.
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
Geometric Manifestation of Form:
Unlike conventional structures for which the elements are defined by dimensions and levels, here the shape, size, thickness, and other details were indicated in the drawings only by levels, radii, and equations. These parameters, therefore, had to be converted into a set of dimensions in terms of length, breadth, height, and thickness.
Fig 5.21 DOME FROM INSIDE
Inner leaf, radial beams and central hub.
After the completion of all the arches, the structural steel staging for the inner leaf was erected. Three shells, 120 deg. apart, were taken up at a time and cast in two lifts, one after the other, up to the radial beam level, ensuring always that the difference in height between the shells cast was not more than one lift (see Fig. 6). The process was repeated until all 9 segments were cast. Casting of the central hub was taken up as an independent activity, and after all the shells were cast, they were connected to the hub by casting the radial beams. After sufficient curing, the inner leaf along with the radial beams were dewedged, leaving the central hub supported. The remaining portion of the inner leaf was then taken up.
Interior dome.
After de-wedging of inner leaf, the steel staging was modified and two folds of shells of the interior dome taken up one after another. For each fold, three shells, 120 deg. apart, were taken up at a time and cast one after another. For each shell the boundary ribs were taken up first and then the shell cast in one single lift. The process was repeated until all the shells were completed.
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Fig 5.22 Top view of Lotus temple Showing pools and petals intersection Entrance and outer leaves. The construction of the entrance and outer leaves was taken up as a parallel activity with the casting of the inner leaves and interior dome. Two entrance leaves and one intermediate outer leaf were taken up First. Thereafter, the outer and entrance leaves were cast alternately, the outer leaf first and then the adjacent entrance leaves. Deshuttering was started with a pair of outer leaves and followed by the intermediate entrance leaf. In this manner the remaining leaves were deshuttered as and when the concrete attained strength and the leaves adjacent to the shell to be deshuttered were cast.
Fig 5.23 Lotus temple leaf and petals intersection
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Fig 5.24 Front view of Lotus temple-The entrance
The Architect gives a clear definition with a reason about his inspiration ti design a building like a flower. He too explains due to the fact that he had to design a ‘House of Worship’, he had to find a concept that is remarkable and also acceptable to people of different backgrounds in this space of diversity. So as the Result explains that he achieved the goal for the design that different yet familiar and understood by most of the people.
Fig 5.25 Flower lotus representing nature of
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MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
The theoretical concept designed to be an actual building. The Architect managed to incorporate the actual form of nature as a concept idea for the actual building. One of the most important feature is the inspiration of a natures phenomenon of photosynthesis –that how plant draw out food through a process for adaptation, similarly the idea for the building was to let energy enter and sublime for enlightenment. And as a result structure is designed in order to function as a skylight. The dome is a composed intersection of nine spheres patterned after the innermost portion of lotus flower. The bud consist of twenty seven petals and filters the light.
Fig 5.26 left(Architect Fariborz Sahba during the time of construction )
The main design of the building is completed in a way that the exterior connects well with the interior. Apart from the reason the exterior is designed in order to complete the context of the building the pool functions well and retains building efficiency thus cooling.
From the Architect: “Nine pools around the building form the principal landscape of the building. They also represent the green leaves of the lotus afloat on water. Moreover, the pools and fountains help to cool the air that passes over them into the hall. The superstructure, the podium and the pools are designed as an integrated whole.”
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CHAPTER SIX ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS The current research results to a dilemma. On the one hand, there is a belief that architects should study nature in order to take inspiration before designing a building that will not be absolutely similar with the concept idea. Furthermore, according to this belief architects should study nature in the ways that it functions and not just to copy it. 'Nature can only give a suggestion, but cannot simply copied". This is an opinion that was mentioned before. On the other hand, many believe that the architects should be inspired by nature and use all this inspiration in order to the form of a building. Architects with that estimation think that by doing that they can take the advantages offered by nature and apply them on the shape of a building. It was previously mentioned that some historical buildings, do not show on their form that the design has any relation with nature apart from some details on them. However, the nature was the source of inspiration for those buildings. Furthermore, the author presented some modern buildings that their form was clearly inspired by nature as well as the reasons that architects did that. In addition, three different case studies have been studied. In these cases studies the architects did not just study nature in order to get inspired for the building's design, but they have also studied nature to give a form on each building. The conclusion leads to a question, which is similar to the topic's question. That question is: "Why architects, in many cases, study nature as a source of inspiration in the design and form of buildings"? Based on the research that has been conducted and the case studies, the author answers to that question in the following paragraphs. Case studies had a common characteristic, which was a final design similar to the original concept idea. Each one of these buildings achieves different goals due to their shape. For instance, the treehouse has a shape that the architects managed to create from a natural form. This natural form achieves a smooth blend of the treehouse with the context, as the site was a forest with no other buildings around.
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The lotus temple, with its unique design, accomplishes another type of goals. The architect managed to connect the form of a temple, which is a religious place, with a famous flower that people are connected with it and it Is also connected with the native religion. Through that way the architect managed to give a very nice feeling to the visitors and connect them with the temple. In addition, there is a deep and universal reverence in India for the lotus flower and the architect, through the building's form, managed to create a relation between people (especially believers) and the temple. As far as concerning the Beijing National stadium the architects used nature for two reasons. The first one is that a building that its exterior has nest cover that makes a straight connection with its functionality as it was going to be used as a faced that turns to roof for the Olympics. In that way, it was very easy for the visitor to understand the use of the building. Furthermore, the curtain design was used for the structure of the building as well. The second reason is that architects used the efficiency of nature on the building's design. Frei Otto has noticed that structural representation of nature form an optimized surface, the function possible form, which not only saves material but also, due to its form, shows the biggest possible stability. From all the case studies it can be deducted that the architects use natural forms for their design and without lacking inspiration. In addition, as it was found in the research, there are many different goals that architects achieve by using forms from nature in their design. If architects were choosing a more common design, that would not be possible. We can conclude as a result that nature is an exquisite field of inspiration in architecture, primarily in terms of building formation but also as a great element that can inform the designer for building mechanism, functionality and fluidity. As stated by Frank Lloyd Wright: "Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." (Finsterwalder, R., 2011).
MANIFESTATION OF NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE
CONCLUTION
As it has been study in previous chapters, there is a debate among a group of scholars, which the nature would be accepted as reference for architecture too or it would be a part beside it. To achieve the aim of the study a short review took place, all through the history, from the time that human were line with the nature up to the time that human hurts the nature right after the industrialization. Accordingly nature has been a part of architecture from the time that human directly used it by living in the caves and using building material according to the nature of its surrounding up to the time after industrialization which the perspective has been changed by the new materials, tools and technologies and inspiration of nature took place in architecture. But it is not all what architecture took from nature, by short look to the development of architecture, form, function and space quality and some of the main factors which has been taken to the consideration, all through the history of classic architecture, and has been extend up to today’s architecture. All of the mentioned factors are under the influence of environmental factors started from gravity up to the earthquake and thermal factors which are common point in the medium of the nature. In this case all other creature in nature are struggling with this factors and by the help of the evolution, were find best and most effective way of facing with this factors is in nature. However the best way of facing with gravity is to face with it by inspiring from natural structure base on this study, but there are facts beyond this which take inspiration from nature to have most optimized architecture as optimization in nature, to face with new restraint, and limitation of resources, beside being in harmony with nature as medium we are living in. The study has intended to show new approaches to have new era of architecture, by taking inspiration from nature in different perspectives
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