3 minute read
BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
Form
The building looks like the organism.
Advertisement
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 Lecturer of the Wellington School of Architecture, classifies these approaches towards biomimetic design in three levels.
of nature’s architecture.
In fact, Mother Nature is far ahead of us when it comes The first level is the organism level, which mimics a specific organism. This can be viewed from different
to the optimisation of her designs. She has been Material Construction evolving and adjusting herself since the beginning of life. This process of improvement lasting billions of years
perspectives, which are form, material, construction, Process Function process and function. The same perspectives go for the two other levels, the behaviour level and the ecosystem has eventually resulted in thoroughly developed and level as shown in the diagram below. The building is efficient architecture. The building is The building The building made from the made in the works in the functions like the When in a creativity crisis, this diagram can help you find same or similar same way as the Nature’s designs, which can be animals, plants or same way as the organism in a inspiration and challenges you to try a new approach material as the organism. organism. individual organism. larger context.any other organism, could be very educational for contemporary designers. Through analysis, designers could find out how and why a specific design of nature has evolved into the way we know it. Once the origin of towards designing. So, if you ever feel uninspired or you feel like your creativity is letting you down? Try biomimicry! // Biomimetic Design
certain characteristics is clear, one could try to implement The building is this in their own creations. The building is made from the made in the same materials same way the However, this can be done with many approaches. the organism organism would Maibritt Pedersen Zari (2007), Deputy Head and Senior builds with. have built it.
The building The building 1 Zari, M. P. (2007). Biomimetic approaches to architectural design SOURCES works in the functions in the for increased sustainability. The SB07 NZ Sustainable Building same way as the same way that it Conference (pp. 1-10). 2 Aldersey-Williams, H. Towards biomimetic architecture. Nature environment of would if made by Mater 3, 277–279 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1119. the organism. the organism.
The building is Form made from similar materials The building the ecosystem is made of. Organism looks like the organism. The building is Material The building Construction The building is Process Function assembled in the works in the able to function in same way as the The building is same way as the The building is The building the same way the The building environment of made from the same or similar environment of ecosystemmade in the same way as the works in the same way as the functions like the organism in a the organism. material as the the organism.organism. individual would. larger context. organism. organism.
Behaviour 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.
Ecosystem 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.
Diagram ‘A Framework for the Application of Biomimicry’ (Zari, 2007), adapted. 1 The building works 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 functions in the same way that it would if made by the organism.
The building is able to function in the same way the ecosystem would.
