MEREL HUIZEN MEREL HUIZEN
Biomimetic Design Lecturer of the Wellington School of Architecture, classifies these approaches towards biomimetic design in three levels.
Biomimicry, or ‘bio-imitating’ design, is a growing interest in the architectural world. Not only because Mother Nature can be a direct source of inspiration, but also for the sustainability of nature’s architecture.
Form
The building looks like the organism.
The first level is the organism level, which mimics a specific organism. This can be viewed from different perspectives, which are form, material, construction, Process Functiongo for the process and function. The same perspectives two other levels, the behaviour level and the ecosystem level as shown in the diagram below.
In fact, Mother Nature is far ahead of us when it comes to the optimisation of her designs. She has been Construction evolvingMaterial and adjusting herself since the beginning of life. This process of improvement lasting billions of years has eventually resulted in thoroughly developed and efficient architecture. The building is The building is
The building The building Whenin in athe creativity crisis, this diagram can help you find works functions like the inspiration and challenges you to try a new approach same way as the organism in a towards designing. So, if you ever feel uninspired or individual larger context. you feel like your creativity is letting you down? Try organism.
made from the made in the Nature’s designs, which cansame be animals, plants same or similar way as the or any other organism, could be very educational for material as the organism. contemporary designers. Through analysis, designers organism.
Biomimetic Design
The building looks like it was made by the organism.
made from the
SOURCES
TheZari, building The building M. P. (2007). Biomimetic approaches to architectural design for increased SB07 NZ Sustainable works in thesustainability. Thefunctions in the Building Conference (pp. 1-10). same way as the way that it Nature Aldersey-Williams, H. Towardssame biomimetic architecture. Mater 3, 277–279 (2004). environment of https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1119. would if made by the organism. the organism. 1
made in the
However, this can be done same with many same materials wayapproaches. the Maibritt Pedersen Zari (2007), organism Deputy Headwould and Senior the organism
Form
Behaviour
Organism
The building is made from The building similar materials looks like the the ecosystem is organism. made of.
Ecosystem
2
have built it.
builds with.
The building looks like an ecosystem the organism would live in.
biomimicry! //
could find out how and why a specific design of nature has evolved into the way we know it. Once the origin of certain characteristics is clear, one could try to implement The building is The building is this in their own creations.
Material
The building is assembled in the The building is the same way as made from the environment of same or similar the organism. material as the
Construction
Process
Function
The building The building is works in the able to function in The building The way building same isway asThe thebuilding the same the made in the works in the functions like the ecosystem environment of same way as the same way as the organism in a would. larger context. the organism. organism. individual
organism.
organism.
The building looks like it was made by the organism.
The building is made from the same materials the organism builds with.
The building is made in the same way the organism would have built it.
The building works in the same way as the environment of the organism.
The building functions in the same way that it would if made by the organism.
The building looks like an ecosystem the organism would live in.
The building is made from similar materials the ecosystem is made of.
The building is assembled in the same way as the environment of the organism.
The building works in the same way as the environment of the organism.
The building is able to function in the same way the ecosystem would.
Diagram ‘A Framework for the Application of Biomimicry’ (Zari, 2007), adapted. 1
WORDS LAYOUT
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