Abstracting nature’s lazy yet innovative solutions for our problems
Internal Examiner Signature
Submitted By: Miss. Mahua Hiray Guide: Ar. Suruchi Ranadive College of Architecture, Nashik
External Examiner Signature
The Difference Biophilia
•It’s a feeling or
condition of mind which pursues one to get in touch with nature
Biomimicry
•It literally means
mimicking forms, functions and patterns of nature.
Bios
Mimesis
(Life)
(To imitate) Biomimicry (To imitate life)
History of Biomimicry The Greek philosophers see natural organisms as models for a harmonious balance and proportion between the parts of a design that is synonymous to classical ideal of beauty.
500B.C
Leonardo Da Vinci is inspired by birds flying to invent a flying machine as an early example of Biomimicry.
1482
It helped in the development of the wright’s brother first prototype to an airplane in 1948.
1948
Jack E. Steele introduces the term Bionics as the science of natural systems or their analogues.
1958
The term Biomimicry, first appears in 1982.
1982
The term Biomimicry, first appears in 1982.
Scientist and author Janine Benyus popularized the term more in her book;” Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by Nature13”.
1982
1997
Bryony Schwan and Janine Benyus cofounded the Biomimicry institute
2005
Chris Allen joined Beynus and Schwan to help launch “AskNature” which is the world's very first digital library that contains a list of natural solutions, Where designers are able to search through this collection of natural system that are classified on their design and engineering.
2007
Bionics ≠ Biomimetics ≠ Biomimicry
Why We Need Biomimicry • There exists an intricately interconnected living system in the nature. • In recent decades have we truly begun to understand the consequences of our actions. • We are part of the ecosystems of our planet. • Biomimicry offers a chance to make things right With care and focus, we can learn to emulate nature’s successful strategies. • In the practice of biomimicry, we set an audacious goal: to build a more life-friendly world–one in which human technologies meet the same ‘design constraints’ that the rest of life on Earth works within.
Framework for biomimetic design
Is its primary source of energy passive? Does it consume only the energy it needs to function? Does it fit the form to required function? Does it effectively handle waste? Does it bank on diversity? Does it utilize local enterprise? Does it curb excessive from within? Does it tap the power of limits?
Steps to adopt biomimicry
Steps to adopt biomimicry • It describes the six most important steps a design team should take when seeking biomimetic solutions to a design challenge. • The steps are described sequentially as a starting point. • However, design teams often find themselves moving back and forth between steps or repeating them. • This is good practice as each step tends to reveal new information that may inform or challenge assumptions made in previous steps.
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DEFINE Clearly articulate the impact you want your design to have in the world (i.e. the challenge you want to solve) and the criteria and constraints that will determine success.
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BIOLOGIZE Analyze the essential functions and context your design solution must address. Reframe them in biological terms, so that you can “ask nature” for advice.
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DISCOVER Look for natural models (organisms and ecosystems) that need to address the same functions and context as your design solution. Identify the strategies used that support their survival and success.
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ABSTRACT Carefully study the essential features or mechanisms that make the biological strategies successful. Restate them in non-biological terms, as “design strategies.”
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EMULATE Look for patterns and relationships among the strategies you found and hone in on the key lessons that should inform your solution. Develop design concepts based on these elements.
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EVALUATE Assess the design concept(s) for how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design challenge and fit into Earth’s systems. Consider technical and business model feasibility. Refine and revisit previous steps as needed to produce a viable solution.
Approaches to Biomimicry
This approach requires designers to identify problems and biologists to match these to organisms that have solved similar issues.
Biology to Design Examples The story of the invention of Velcro® is a famous example of “biology to design.” Swiss engineer George de Mestral went for a hike with his dog one day. Later, as he was pulling burdock seeds from the dog’s fur, he realized the hooked barbs of the seed could be a model for a new type of hook and loop fastener.
Tubercle Technology is a more contemporary example of the “biology to design” phenomenon. The innovator, Frank E. Fish, was initially puzzled that the leading edge of humpback whale flippers have tubercles or bumps. In seeking out the answer why, he gained new insights that lead to the development of more efficient wind turbines and fan blades.
This approach requires to have relevant biological or ecological knowledge and research rather on design problem
Design to Biology Examples
The lotus flower is sort of like the sharkskin of dry land. The flower's micro-rough surface naturally repels dust and dirt particles, keeping its petals sparkling clean. When water rolls over a lotus leaf, tiny nail-like protuberances collects anything on the surface, leaving a clean and healthy leaf behind. A German company, Ispo, spent four years researching this phenomenon and has developed a paint with similar properties. The micro-rough surface of the paint pushes away dust and dirt, diminishing the need to wash the outside of a house.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
Organism Level /Form Level The first level is Organism- this refers to mimicking a specified organism. This could be the entire organism or a portion of the organism.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
Namibian Beetle and Water Collection •
The intricate design of the beetle’s shell provides the beetle with the essential nutrients and water necessary to survive in such a climate.
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There are bumps on the beetle’s shell which are hydrophilic (water-attracting) along with alternate parts to its shell which are hydrophobic (water-repelling).
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The hydrophobic parts to the shell act like channels or groves for water and moisture.
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During the hot day the beetle is exposed to the radiating sun and its black shell absorbs a lot of the heat.
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When nightfall approaches, it comes out from below the ground and climbs to the top of a mound and waits for the morning to come.
This level of Biomimicry, the organism level, took the technology that was found in the organism itself and mimicked it to produce an innovative, simple, man-made sustainable solution to what was before seen as a difficult and complex problem.
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Because the beetle’s temperature is a lot warmer than its surroundings, it is a beacon for moisture.
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When the morning fog rolls in, water droplets from the fog are combined and collected on the beetle’s shell.
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As the water droplets form, because of the shape of the bumps, the water droplets stay in tight spherical beads which make them more mobile and easier to channel towards the beetle’s mouth.
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The building is a series of pods that are positioned behind a tall, slightly-curved nylon mesh screen which is used to collect water. The nylon mesh wall is oriented towards the ocean so that it can adequately capture as much moisture as possible from the fogs that come easing in off the ocean front. Parkes’ design follows the same principles as the beetle. The collects on the mesh screen and because of its shape and vertical orientation, the water naturally runs down the mesh into gutter system located at the bottom of the screens. The water is then transported through the gutters into large cisterns that keep the water at an appropriate cooler temperature so that the water does not evaporate.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
Cactus and Temperature Regulation •
Another organism that has adapted to arid, dry climates is the cactus, which has also been mimicked in design.
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What makes the cactus so unique is the technology it uses in order to survive. The signature characteristic of a cactus is the spines that encompass the entire plant. But these spines serve more than just one purpose. The obvious purpose for the spines is for protection.
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It makes it very dangerous and difficult for herbivorous animals to eat the plant.
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They also serve to channel the rain water down to the base of the plant where it gets collected and stored.
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Being that most cacti live in areas that receive very little rainfall, it is crucial that it takes advantage of capturing water when the opportunity presents itself.
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But the most important function that the spines serve is to help shade the plant from the intense sun. By having so many spines throughout the exterior skin, it shades the plant enough to keep the internal temperature low enough to where the water that the plant stores does not evaporate.
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Aesthetics Architects in Thailand designed a building in Qatar that uses these technologies to create a unique sustainable solution to a complex problem.
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They were looking for inspiration to design a building that would be situated in the hot, dry climate of Qatar, an area that only receives approximately 3.2 inches of rainfall annually.
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They decided to investigate the cactus for ideas on a building solution.
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The new MMAA building was designed based on the shading properties of the cactus’ spines.
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It achieves this by incorporating sunshades on the exterior of the building.
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Much like in Kieran’s analysis on a buildings envelope and a filter, these shades act like filters with the sunlight that is penetrating the spaces.
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With the intensity of the sunlight that beats down onto the building and its occupants, a normal building would have to have a large cooling system in order to make that space comfortable for the user.
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The sunshades on the MMAA building however have the ability to automatically fluctuate up and down, depending on the desired interior temperature, to regulate the amount of sunlight and heat that is transferred into the space.
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This innovative solution allows this building to lower the size and amount of artificial cooling necessary for the building to operate properly as well as providing a sustainable solution that is aesthetically pleasing.
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At the base of the building is a botanical garden which will hopefully be used as an edible garden and living machine.
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Overall the building is an example of a solution at the macro level, encompassing the building as a whole and how it functions within a specific environment.
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But Biomimicry also provides the opportunity to go even further and look at the micro level, such as looking at the design of the specific technologies that connect to the whole.
Case Studies Organism
Behavioral Level/ Function Level The second level is Behavior- this refers to mimicking a specific type of behavior or act that the organism does to survive or replicates on a daily basis in relation to a larger context.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
The Eastgate Center, Harare 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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By observing the way air flows in termite mounds to keep the temperature constant and mimicking the ―architecture of the mounds, he has been able to create a ten story shopping complex and constantly maintain its internal temperature between 21oC and 25oC in a region where temperature varies from as low as 5oC to 33oC and it does all these using only about10% the amount of energy used by buildings of the same size.
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The structure of a termite mound is such that cool air comes in at the base and is channeled through a number of tunnels in the mound and as it warms, it rises up to the top where it escapes then more cool air is sucked in at the base replacing the lost hot air and thereby maintaining a constant internal temperature.
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The Eastgate center functions in the same manner as a termite mound. However it is equipped with low speed back up fans that bring in the cold air at night and distribute it throughout the building keeping it cool, and as the air gets warmer as the day progresses, the warm air escapes through the top of the building.
Crits towards the project •
It must be noted however, that in recent times, this particular building has come under criticism following the publication of a research paper by J.S. Turner and R.C. Soar (2008) which showed that termite mounds are not in fact thermo-controlled as temperatures were found to vary largely within them.
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This called into question whether the Eastgate center is actually an example of biomimicry or as some critics have put it, bio mythology.
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The case of the East gate center raises the question;
“what is known of a particular natural phenomenon changes, does it invalidate designs built based on the now defunct knowledge regardless of how successful the designs are?”
Case Studies Behavior
Ecosystem/Biodiversity Level The third level is Ecosystem- this refers to mimicking a specific ecosystem and how it functions successfully as well as what elements and principles are required for it to function successfully.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
Zira Island Master Plan
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The Zira Island is located within the crescent bay of Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, on the Caspian Sea.
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This project was designed to be a Zero Energy resort and entertainment city on the island.
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Creating a zero energy resort that consumes a 1,000,000m² island may seem impossible, but BIG has found a way to do it successfully and beautifully.
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The project was brought to BIG by a minister from Azerbaijan who was inspired from a previous project that BIG had proposed.
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The minister was inspired in the way that you can recreate “mountains” out of architecture because Azerbaijan is known as the Alps of Central Asia.
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With this in mind, the minister asked BIG if they could create a resort and entertainment city that would recreate the silhouette of the seven most significant mountains in Azerbaijan. This is how the building forms were derived.
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Each structure not only represents one of the seven most famous mountains in Azerbaijan, but they are all also inhabitable.
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What is unique about this site is that the Zira Island has absolutely no vegetation, no water or resources. Bjarke Ingels describes it as being a desert.
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Because of this, BIG’s overall master plan was designed to be its own independent ecosystem.
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They were able to do this by using a variety of new sustainable technologies to produce enough energy to power the entire island.
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Wind energy from wind turbines which are seated in the Caspian Sea, are used to power desalination plants.
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The desalination plants are used to extract the salt from the sea water and convert it into fresh water which is suitable for humans.
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The water is then used for heating and cooling the buildings. All of the excess waste water is then dispersed into the landscape to provide nutrients to the new vegetation on the entire island. In addition to the waste water, storm water is also collected and recycled for irrigating the plant life around the island.
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During the extraction process to make the water suitable for humans, there is a large amount of solid waste that is filtered and collected.
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The solid minerals that are gathered are also recycled by turning these solids into top soil and thus used to fertilize the vegetation.
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Evacuated tubes and photovoltaic panels were also placed on the exterior facades and at the top of the buildings to generate power as well.
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With all of these elements working together, the island becomes a self sustaining, independent ecological system; one that combines private resort villas with a gorgeous green valley that is easily accessible to all who inhabit the island.
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Not only does the composition become an iconic piece of architecture in the city’s skyline, but it also stands as an inspiration for future large scale sustainable development projects around the world.
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One in particular is the Coral Reef Project by Vincent Callebaut.
EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY 1 Organism Level /Form Level 1.1 Namibian Beetle and Water Collection
1.2 Cactus and Temperature Regulation
2 Behavioral Level/ Function Level 2.1 Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation
3 Ecosystem Level/ Biodiversity Level 3.1 Zira Island Master Plan 3.2 Coral Reef Project Haiti
Coral Reef Project Haiti •
Over the past few two years, Haiti has been victims to devastating earthquakes, ranging from 7.0 and up on the Richter scale, which had a substantial impact on the country as a whole.
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Families, friends, and neighbors were forced to watch as their homes and community were destroyed by these tremendous natural disasters.
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After the earthquake it was quite apparent the large amount of destruction it had caused.
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Haiti was in dire need of help and for a drastic redevelopment to occur.
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Vincent Callebaut, who is the founder of Vincent Callebaut Architect, looked to nature as the basis for his design proposal.
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Callebaut explored the principals behind coral reefs. Coral is basically underwater structural formations that consist of calcium carbonate. They are home to many marine animals and also help to balance the underwater ecosystem.
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What is interesting about coral is the dynamic shape at which it grows. Each piece of coral is unlike the other.
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It is almost like the ocean has thousands of tiny fingerprints.
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Callebaut was fascinated by the non-uniform shape and formation of coral reefs and used this as the basis of his design principles.
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The carbon neutral utopian village for Haiti is called the Coral Reef Project.
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Inspired by the coral reef with fluid organic shapes, the overall project is presented as a living structure that has the ability to grow and house over a thousand Haitian families.
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The housing development appears as though it is two waves that undulate throughout the artificially built pier, which was constructed on seismic piles in order to withstand seismic impacts from earthquakes.
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In between the two waves, a valley of gorgeous green terraces and organic gardens lace the interior walls to form a space that embraces the community and culture of the Haitian society.
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What makes this design so unique is that it is actually constructed from only using one standardized and prefabricated module.
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It is the placement and orientation of each module that give the overall scheme a non-uniform design aesthetic.
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The module consists of two passive houses, with metallic structure and tropical wood facades, which interlock in duplex around the horizontal circulation which links every unit.
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When these houses, or modules, are assembled together, they form the organic shape of the two waves of “coral”.
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Because they were designed in this way, the modules have the ability to cantilever out over one another which gives the opportunity for an organic garden to be present on every module, using the roof of the unit below as the garden.
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The roof gardens then serve as a way for each family to cultivate and grow their own food, making them self sufficient.
Case Studies (Part I) International Context
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Building name: The Council House 2, Melbourne CH2 (CH2)
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Location: Melbourne, Australia.
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Story: 10 stories
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Time period: 2004:2006
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Designed by: City of Melbourne with association of Mick Pearce Design Inc.
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Challenge: challenging traditional sustainability approaches as it emulated a trees bark.
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Representation between art and science.
Green rating : 6 (Green Star, Australia)
Biomimic approach: Design to biology
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In order to achieve the objectives, it was based on linking the building to its external environment and living organisms surrounding it.
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As a result it responds holistically to its environment
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The usage of biomimicry appeared throughout the entire building.
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The design process was valuable as it led to the breakage between traditional industry solutions. Even though the buildings of the future may not resemble the CH2, but the CH2 represents a living type of architecture. As a result it was reached the future buildings should contain the following:
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Interact with environment.
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Express climate and culture.
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Facades should express orientation.
• West facade = the epidermis of the tree. It was inspired in how the facade would moderate the external climate. • North and south facades were inspired from the bronchi of the tree. These were implemented as wind pipes and allowed for air ducts on the exterior of the CH2 as shown in [figure 3a]. • The eastern core and the facade, consisting of the service core and the toilets, emulated the tree skin (bark) as shown in [figure 3b]. The skin acted as a protective layer which filters light and air in the ventilated wet area spaces behind. • Finally, the overlapping layers of the facade are constructed with perforated metal with polycarbonate walling in order to fix the louvers.
RECAP
Case Study (Part 2) Indian Context
LOTUS TEMPLE Form Delhi
INSPIRATION LOTUS FLOWER •
Observing Hindu architecture, one can see that all show meaningful and sacred symbols common to all of India’s religions.
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These are symbols which have emerged in other countries and religions.
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One of these symbols is the sacred flower of the Indians: the lotus flower and Fariborz Sahba developed the project for the temple inspired conceptually by this flower which symbolizes purity and cleanliness in Hindu tradition.
LAVASA CITY Biodiversity Pune
The idea was to restore 70% of the deforested land through detailed landscaping, reforestation and slope greening, reduce 30% of carbon emissions, 65% of potable water consumption, and 95% of waste sent to landfills
95% 70% 65% 30%
Waste sent to landfills Deforested land Restored Potable-water consumption
Reduced Carbon emissions
Lavasa inspired by banyan fig leaves and harvester ants •
The city’s rooftops are inspired by the morphology of the native banyan fig leaf, whose pointed spear shape at the end that hastens the water run-off and cleans its surface in the process.
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It has led to the development of tiled shingle rooftops that shed water in the same way. Since the Western Ghats region is prone to seasonal flooding from monsoons and a strategy based on ant nest has been adopted to channel water through the city.
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This efficient plan is inspired from the local harvester ants that divert water away from their nests through multi-path, low-grade channels. Further, water has been stored in networked building foundations, much like tree roots.
Criticism Against Biomimicry •
Steven Vogels’ book, Cats’ Paws and Catapults, is a piece of literature that brings to reality some of the negative arguments towards Biomimicry referring it to “naïve Biomimicry”.
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What he refers to as naïve is scientists and inventors that were using the exact same technology found in nature and without any adjustments, turning it into something at human scale.
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By implementing designs in this way, the majority of the designs were unsuccessful. In his book he uses several good examples that showcase this argument.
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These examples mostly focus on locomotion by both air and water.
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Designers such as the Wright brothers spent much of their time observing birds and their ability to glide through the air. The size to weight ratio of birds is much different than that required of an aircraft.
Conclusion
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Many biologists have dedicated their lives to finding out how different organisms in nature work and how they impact the environment.
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It is their research that can be utilized to solve the world’s most complex problems.
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Biomimicry may just be that solution. It is shocking that this type of analysis and design ethic is not more common in the built environment.
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Nature is always forced to adapt to new things much like humans are.
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Those types of adaptations and evolving principals in nature should be studied and implemented into the built environment.
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Creating a sustainable built environment is not done by integrating just solar panels on every building.
Bibliography •
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674074422&content=reviews
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https://littlegreenseed.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/this-is-not-biomimicry/
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https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Biology-to-Design-spiral_fig32_303587913
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https://asknature.org/resource/biomimicry-design-spiral/#.Xk1N0igzbIU
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https://biomimicry.net/our-work/energy-efficient-desert-living/
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https://toolbox.biomimicry.org/methods/process/
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https://toolbox.biomimicry.org/methods/other/
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https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/7-amazing-examplesof-biomimicry/sharkskin-swimsuit
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https://eusa.org/exhibition/natures-blueprints/
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https://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/
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https://reducedplanckconstant.wordpress.com/tag/namibian-desert-beetles/
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountains_of_Azerbaijan
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https://inhabitat.com/qatar-cactus-office-building/cactus-building-3/
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https://asknature.org/strategy/water-vapor-harvesting/attachment/illustration-ofnamib-beetle-surface-with-water-droplets/#.XnVrk4gzbIU
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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/
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vincent.callebaut.org
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https://biomimetismetpemaimo.wordpress.com/le-design/
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Benyus, J. M (2002). Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Perennial, New York
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Benyus, J. M., 1997. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature. 1st ed. New York: William Morrow and Company.
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Berkebile, B., McLennan, J., 2003. The Living Building. [ONLINE] Available at: http://biomimicry.typepad.com/bioin spire/files/BioInspire.1807.17.04.pdf. [Accessed 25 Dec 19].
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Ehsaan, 2010, ―Lord Foster‘s Natural Inspiration: The Gherkin Tower,‖ biomimetic architecture available at: http://www.biomimeticarchitecture.com/2010/lordfostersnatural-inspiration-the-gherkintower. accessed on 16 march 2017.
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El-Zeiny, R.M.A, (2012). Biomimicry as a Problem Solving Methodology in Interior Architecture. In ASEAN Conference on Environment Behavior Studies. Bangkok, Thailand, 16-18 July 2012.MARA, Malaysia: Elsevier Ltd. 502-512.
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Gamage, A, Hyde, R., 2012. A model based on Biomimicry to enhance ecologically sustainable design. Architectural Science Review, 55, 224-235.