Biomimicry application in Interior Architecture

23 October 2020

Srishti Bansal

Biomimicry design approach in Interior Architecture Biomimicry is a complex subject which involves a deeper dive into the scientific aspect of our environment, specifically the biology, adaptability and functioning of it. But firstly I would like to bust a couple of myths regarding biomimicry before we even begin to touch the topic: • Biomimicry has nothing to do with appearance. Digging deeper and applying the biology makes it a biomimetic design approach. • Understanding the framework of different forms in Biomimicry even before the preliminary stage of design and conceptualisation is the way to go.

Moving forward I will be briefing about why and how it is a problem solving method in most ways possible and what are the ways we can apply biomimicry into interior architecture.

The answer to these questions act as a base to a better and more effective approach as a designer towards Biomimicry and Biophilia.

Biomimicry in Interior Architecture

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23 October 2020

Srishti Bansal

“Life creates conditions conductive to life.”

(WHY) Biomimicry as a problem solving methodology in design comes into action through thorough study of the natural designs, processes and systems of ecosystem and environment.

It has to be innovation, adaptable and sustainable. Incorporating features more than just shape and form from the nature is a must, it has to have some functional biological aspect.

Biomimicry can be derived from everything to anything present around us: flora, fauna, animals, ecology, weather, ecosystem. A major part of this design approach is still largely elusive and unrealised and yet to be discovered. The results of this problem solving method is extremely efficient, but also requires a human’s extreme interest in the field of sustainability.

An art movement led in Germany in Mid 1890s- ‘Jugendstil’ was a hint of biomimicry form and shape derivation. At first it was completely inclined towards using floral motifs into graphics and by 1900s it led to incorporation of Biophilic patterns into architecture as well.

All this was occurring during the Art Nouveau Era. Janine Benyus, a one of a kind woman of the century also a Biomimicry Enthusiast emphasises to learning from the nature, “learn and adapt”. We will then soon enough figure out that nature is an imaginative problem solver by necessity, most times it adapts to change and rest of the times it changes itself accordingly.

If we talk about Biomimetic design approach in a philosophical manner: It pushes us to move beyond formalistic characteristics of nature, to view our surroundings with an imaginative or even literal microscope if required to understand the functionality so that we can build an environment inside the interior architecture space or element.

To achieve utmost level of response and result both, the contribution and involvement of both: Biologists, Ecologists and designers is a necessity. A framework to understanding the functioning of nature is applied to the design, hence requiring work done by both areas.

Biomimicry in Interior Architecture

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23 October 2020

Srishti Bansal

(HOW) Approach framework based application methodology divided into two sections: The table below will help you understand the 3 categories or ‘levels’ of elements present in our nature through which we derive solution to our problems by the biomimicry design approach. Also it states the characteristics to look out for in each of the levels.

Levels

ENVIRONMENT

COMMUNITY

ORGANISM

Characteristics

contextual fit

Interaction

Form and structure

response to change

Hierarchy

Growth

adapt

Communication

manage

Team management

Function and behaviour Motion

protect

1.

• • • • •

Systems

Problem based (design looking to biology) Dynamic in nature Output from later stage effects previous- refinement loop process Non linear in nature as revisions from previous steps makes it a loop Atmosphere of an effective paradigm is created Takes a turn from being un- sustainable towards sustainability

problem Identification > reframing the problem > biological solution research > defining biological solution > principle extraction > principle application 2.

• • • • •

Solution based (biology influencing human design) pre knowledge on relevant biological/ ecological research Advantage: pre known to biological solutions to predetermined human design problems resulting in certain quicker and different approaches Disadvantage: research before design context identification, to know the ingenious application forces designer to think about incorporating ways of nature into design defining entire new problem areas, to determine finite nature solutions

biological solution identification > defining biological solution > principle extraction > reframe the solution > problem search > problem definition > principle application Each organism is embedded with information and functional aspects which can be useful to us. To derive each one of it is a tedious task which requires deeper knowledge and appropriate educational background to attain the utmost level of skill supremacy. In the table below I have tried to summarise the different kinds of aspects derived from each biomimetic level of an organism, its community and environment.

Biomimicry in Interior Architecture

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23 October 2020

Srishti Bansal

Levels of Biomimicry

Aspects of the levels

ORGANISM FEATURES

aspects and properties of a creature as a whole

ORGANISM- COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP

other features focused on relationship between an organism and it’s living community

ORGANISM- ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP

system and eco solution from relationship between an organism and it’s environment

shape, colour, transparency, rhythm, hierarchy, structure, stability, gravity resistance, material and process, mutation, growth, function, behaviour, motion, aerodynamics, anatomy, modularity, patterns, morphology, portability, mobility, self assembly, recovery, survival, maintenance, healing, homeostasis, change in force survival techniques, interaction means, transgeneration, hierarchy, group management, coordination, communication, collaboration, teamwork, self protection, sensing, responding, interaction, risk management adjusting to change, response to temperature, response to context: camouflage, self protection and self cleaning, adjustments and adaptation to ecosystems: sound levels, shading, self illumination, shelter building qualities, resource management, waste management

(WHAT ARE THE WAYS) Identification of the biomimetic level to use, before preliminary ideas and design concept process is the first stage to application of biomimicry in Interior and Architecture.

5 basic habitat stage environmental concepts derived from the organisms to apply into the interior architecture design are: • day lighting • thermal comfort • energy efficiency • durability • product-ability EXAMPLES to application of biomimicry in interior architecture 1. Interface FLOR- ‘Nature’s design for flooring’ - by David Oakey The level of biomimicry supporting this design concept is - organism features.

Oakey came up with entropy over coloured floor tiles (Carpets) extracting the concept from nature and random and variant sized and colours pebbles found near the river bed. This allows the designer to flow freely with no restricted pattern in flooring. Also, this promoted sustainability as the faulty tiles are easy to replace as their is no set pattern, creating less wastage.

2. Smart Paints- ‘derived out of lotus leaf’ The level of biomimicry supporting this design concept is- organism and its living community.

These smart paints allow the painted surface remain water retention free. The kind of bumps and ridges found on the surface of lotus leaf which prevents the water to seep in to the surface, the same function is applied here in smart paints, preventing the water to spread out hence making the surface water proof.

Biomimicry in Interior Architecture

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23 October 2020

Srishti Bansal

3. Visual Comfort Building Facades- ‘fish’ The level of biomimicry supporting this design concept is- relationship between organism and environment.

Visual comfort building facades is an interesting concept which polarizes the light travel through to act as an anti glare mechanism without any view reduction. This is a problem based design approach derived from organisms that can regulate light and can polarize it. If light is vibrating in one direction and is not continuously moving in multiple directions, it is termed to be polarized. Fishes have polarized vision.

Adding a filter to the vision in one single direction will help in polarization. Adding more filters in different directions would mean creating higher intensified polarization. The 2 techniques to attain polarization in building window facade: • Polarization film- windows with circular shape which rotate electronically or manually.

• Polarized crystals- windows that rotate through voltage, control panel and can move upto 4 phases- vertically, horizontally, non polarized, blocked 4. FAZ Pavilion- Weather responsive surfaces and structures- ‘Confier cones’- by Anchim Menges Cones protects the seed inside, from rain and opens up when it has to escape the dry weather conditions. This is a material oriented design approach where the structure responses to the environment. Without the use of any muscle force these cones act as a sensor, actuator and regulators at the same time.

The material system in plants has hygroscopic properties which adapt to the structural forces, which helps in kinematic and environmental responsive movements.

Hence, the outcome is to design and manufacture of such surface responsive structures to climate without any mechanics. Creating interior extensions which are weather responsive with embedded sensors acting up to respond to rain and humidity by forming a waterproof skin.

The future of Biomimicry and Biophilia in Interior Architecture seems to have a brighter future as if the designers and biologists are able to step up a stronger than ever bridge between the two fields the future of Interior Architecture can turn out to be: 1. New sustainable standards set for the architecture and interior world 2. Promoting sustainable design for day lighting, lesser energy consumption, ecological footprint reduction 3. Clear economical profits because of reduced usage of perishable resources 4. Smarter design conceptualisation: conscious design approach 5. Connection of the work to nature: maintaining the link between the design and nature’s biological function and not just the form, shape and material.

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