Biomimicry in Architecture : A study of Biomimetic Design for Sustainability

BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE

ROLE OF BIOMIMETIC DESIGN IN PRODUCING SUSTAINABLE BUILT STRUCTURES

ANJALI MANIAR | 1BM14AT008 | VIII A BMS COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, BENGALURU - 19

INDEX SL NO.

CONTENTS

1

OBJECTIVE

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2

ABSTRACT

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3

INTRODUCTION • History • Application

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4

APPROACHES TO BIOMIMICRY

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5

PRINCIPLES OF BIOMIMICRY

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6

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE APPLICATION OF BIOMIMICRY

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EXAMPLE – BUILDING MIMICKING TERMITES 7

BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE • Sustainable Design Framework • Application

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8

CASE STUDY - The Eastgate Centre , Zimbabwe

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9

CONCLUSION

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SOURCES

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ANJALI MANIAR | 1BM14AT008 | BMSCA

OBJECTIVES To study the role of Biomimicry in long term sustainability and energy efficiency, in built forms.

ABSTRACT The relationship between architecture and nature, for the last 500 years or so, has been one of juxtaposition. Architects and planners, referring to their creation as the “built environment,” have put nature—that other environment—into the cross-hairs, hoping either to trim it into submission or to push it outside city limits altogether.

This is beginning to change. Increasingly, architects look to nature as something not simply to incorporate into architecture, but as an inspired model for building design. Nature has learned how to achieve most efficient multifunctional structures, where designers and architects are trying to learn from nature and to get an optimized solutions from it.

Biomimicry presents itself as a basis, a foundation of a new research methodology instead of mere serendipity. Biomimicry has to be approached in a multi-disciplinary order of thought in order to understand the principles of nature to achieve a holistic design solution.

KEYWORDS:

Biomimicry, Biomimetics, Adaptation, Ecosystem , Zero waste, Sustainability, Efficiency, Built environment

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ANJALI MANIAR | 1BM14AT008 | BMSCA

INTRODUCTION When nature has a problem, evolution weeds out what doesn’t work and selects the most effective adaptations. Hence what we are left with is design, that has been perfected over several million years, to suit specific needs with maximum efficiency.

Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.

The word ‘Biomimicry’ originates from two Greek words : Bios - Life Mimesis - Imitation Biomimetic architecture is a contemporary philosophy of architecture that seeks solutions for sustainability in nature, not by replicating the natural forms, but by understanding the rules governing those forms.

It is a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainable design that follows a set of principles rather than stylistic codes.

HISTORY In the work of Filippo Brunelleschi: after studying the strength of eggshells, the Renaissance architect designed a thinner, lighter dome for his cathedral in Florence, completed in 1436.

One of the early examples of would-be biomimicry was the study of birds to enable human flight. Although never successful in creating a "flying machine", Leonardo da Vinci was a keen observer of the anatomy and flight of birds, and made numerous notes and sketches on his observations as well as sketches of "flying machines".

The Wright Brothers, who succeeded in flying the first heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903, allegedly derived inspiration from observations of pigeons in flight.

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Later, in 1719, paper producers shifted from using cotton and linen fibres after French entomologist Réne-Antoine Réaumur suggested the wasp’s use of wood pulp in nest-building demonstrated a better alternative.

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In 1809, naval architect Sir George Cayley studied dolphins to make ships’ hulls more streamlined.

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Yet perhaps the most famous example of biomimicry came in 1948 when Swiss engineer George de Mestral walked his dog: it emerged from the bushes covered in burrs.

After examining the burrs’ tiny hooks under a magnifying glass, he designed Velcro.

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Velcro inspired from cockle - burrs

APPLICATION SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN

INSPIRATION

PRECEDENCE

PRODUCT

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Kingfishers move quickly from air, a low-resistance (low drag) medium, to water, a highresistance (high drag) medium. The beak is streamlined, steadily increasing in diameter from its tip to its head. This reduces the impact as the kingfisher essentially wedges its way into the water, allowing the water to flow past the beak rather than being pushed in front of it.

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Because the train faced the same challenge, moving from low drag open air to high drag air in the tunnel, Eiji Nakatsu designed the forefront of the Shinkansen train based on the beak of the kingfisher.

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The Shinkansen Bullet Train has a streamlined forefront and structural adaptations to significantly reduce noise resulting from aerodynamics in high-speed trains.

The more streamlined train not only travels more quietly, it now travels 10% faster and uses 15% less electricity.

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APPROACHES TO BIOMIMICRY ▪

DESIGN

Inspiration

BIOLOGY

The approach requires designers to identify problems and biologists to match these to organisms that have solved similar issues.

The Car is more fuel efficient due to aerodynamic body mimicking the BOX FISH

Produces more efficient approaches to existing technologies

▪

BIOLOGY

DAIMLER CHRYSLER’S BIONIC CAR

DESIGN

The approach requires to have relevant biological or ecological knowledge and research, rather than a design problem.

Inspiration

Biology can influence humans in ways outside predetermined design problem.

Precedence

Filaments on the Gecko’s feet produce Capillary and van der wall’s forces for movement over vertical surfaces.

This results in previously unthought-of technologies or systems or approach to design solutions.

P RINCIPLES OF B I OMIMICRY

Precedence

GECKO TAPE

The Gecko tape mimics this adhesive quality.

MAN MADE SYSTEMS

BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Simple Disconnected Mono-functioning

Complex Interconnected Symbiotic

Linear Chains Wasteful

Closed Loop Zero waste

Resistant to Change

Adapts to Constant change

Long term Toxins produced

No long term toxins used

Centralized Mono- cultural

Distributed Diverse

Fossil Fuel dependent

Run on Current Solar income

Maximise one goal

Optimised as a whole system

Extractive

Additive

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FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE APPLICATION OF BIOMIMICRY Within the two approaches discussed, three levels of biomimicry that may be applied to a design problem are typically given as Organism level Physical component (Form, structure, material)

BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE

Behavioural Level Functional task (Process)

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Ecosystem Level Interaction

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B IOMIMICRY I N A RCHITECTURE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FRAMEWORK 1. SITE & CLIMATE ANALYSIS: Analysing site, orientation, exposure, climate, topographical factors, local constraints and natural resources.

2. FLEXIBLE STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: Investigating structural characters, permanence/temporariness, integration with building components, etc.

3. RENEWABLE BUILDING MATERIALS: Analysing efficiency of a material or a product, size, standardization, structural adequacy, complexity, appropriateness, cost, labour involved, plantation origin, method of growth, embodied energy, recycled and reused content, toxicity, etc.

4. BUILDING ENVELOPE SYSTEMS: Control of energy flows that enter (or leave) an enclosed volume, including consideration of orientation, seasonal variations, surrounding environment, function, and typology.

5. MODULAR BUILDING SYSTEMS: Construction and assembling methods to facilitate substitution, repair, maintenance, diversified lifetime, etc.

6. RENEWABLE & NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SYSTEMS: Integrating sources of energy that do not reduce or exhaust their point of origin.

7. INNOVATIVE HVAC SYSTEMS: Implementing strategies to provide thermohygrometric and air quality comfort, exploiting mechanically regulated, hybrid, or, preferably, totally passive techniques; 8. WATER COLLECTION & STORAGE SYSTEMS: Adopting methods, system and strategies to collect, store, distribute, use, recycle and re-use water.

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APPLICATION Most of the existing examples are related to the first dimension - form, structure and material.

Designs that mimic functional tasks are less in number. Zimbabwe‟s Eastgate center, opened in 1996, is one of the most famous architectural examples of this category. Mick Pearce, the designer, tried to provide thermal comfort for his building by mimicking the ventilation system used in termite towers found in local nature.

While it is very difficult till now to find designs of the third category “ecosystem”. One of them is Lavasa project copying the same proportion as the original ecosystem found in nature.

ORGANISM LEVEL

BEHAVIOUR LEVEL

Waterloo International Terminal

The Eastgate Centre, Harare

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EXAMPLE Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners

Mick Pearce and Arup Associates

ECOSYSTEM LEVEL Lavasa City, Maharashtra •

HOK Team

INSPIRATION

Pangolin

Termite mound

Moist Deciduous Forest ecosystem

MATERIALS USED

Steel & glass

Concrete

(Miscellaneous)

The glass panel fixing that makes up the structure mimic the flexible scale arrangement of Pangolin.

The building is designed with a unique ventilation system, which draws outside air and cools or warms it depending on temperature.

The central open space draws more air with help of fans and is pushed up through ducts located in the central spine of the buildings.

In response to the season flooding, they designed the building foundations to store water like the former trees did.

City rooftops mimic native the banyan fig leaf looking to its driptip system that allows water to run off while simultaneously cleaning its surface.

Ability to move in response to the imposed air pressure forces when trains enter and depart.

Temperature remains regulated all year around without using conventional airconditioning or heating systems.

Annual flooding in the region is tackled by advance water storage systems Self sufficient environment created

APPLICATION IN DESIGN

PROBLEM SOLVED

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CASE STUDY - EASTGATE CENTRE, HARARE

ARCHITECT BUILDING TYPE LOCATION

Mick Pearce & Arup Associates Shopping Centre and Office Block Harare, Zimbabwe

BIOMIMETIC INSPIRATION : Ventilation System of a Termite mounds.

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Eastgate comprises two buildings side by side linked together by a glass roof.

Below this, steel bridges and lifts suspended on cables from steel lattice beams span over the atrium below. The lifts connect with a suspended glass skywalk which runs the length of the atrium at level 2.

The centre of the skywalk is connected to street level by escalators and the street leads to the city’s web.

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Along the ridge of the red tiled roof are 48 brick funnels topping internal stacks which pull the exhaust air out of the seven floors of offices below.

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The sandwich of the vaulted ceiling and the voided floor above acts as a heat exchanger.

The cold night air passing through the void festooned with concrete teeth removes the heat of the previous day and on the following day warm external air is cooled about 3°C by the same teeth before entering the room.

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CONCLUSION The built environment is increasing held accountable for global environmental and social problems with vast proportions of waste, material and energy use and green house gas emissions attributed to the habitats humans have created for themselves. It is becoming increasingly clear that a shift must be made in how the built environment is created and maintained.

Biomimicry is looking to nature to find a successful solutions from different kinds of organisms that solved their problems from million years ago, as we can then put these design features into use in real-world architecture and structure.

Most of the current work focuses on the mimicry of structural forms from nature and using the digital tools as a source of defining and applying simulations on these complex structures.

Mimicking life, including the complex interactions between living organisms that make up ecosystems is both a readily available example for humans to learn from and an exciting prospect for future human habitats that may be able to be entwined with the habitats of other species in a mutually beneficial way.

This discourse tends to be theoretical at present with many ideas related to ecosystem based biomimicry and architectural biomimicry in general yet to be tested in built form.

Design that mimics how most ecosystems are able to function in a sustainable and even regenerative way, has the potential to positively transform the environmental performance of the built environment.

This may be enhanced if a systems based biomimicry that mimics how mature ecosystems function, is included in initial design parameters and is used as an evaluation benchmark throughout the design process.

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SOURCES WEBSITES • biomimicry.org • www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2015-02-23/14-smart-inventions-inspired-by-naturebiomimicry • www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/biomimicry-examples • http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150913-nine-incredible-buildings-inspired-by-nature • www.ft.com/content/e2041a1e-0d32-11e6-b41f-0beb7e589515 • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimetic_architecture • http://genselective.blogspot.in/2011/10/biomimicry-explored.html

BOOKS • Biomimicry in Architecture - Michael Pawlyn • Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature - Janine M. Benyus • Biologically Inspired Design: Process and Products - M. Helms, S.V. Swaroop, A.K. Goel

PAPERS • Pedersen Zari, Maibritt. (2018). Biomimetic approaches to architectural design for increased Sustainability • Oguntona, Olusegun & Aigbavboa, Clinton. (2016).

Promoting biomimetic materials for a sustainable construction industry.

• Elghawaby Mahmoud. (2010).

Biomimicry: A New Approach to Enhance the Efficiency of Natural Ventilation Systems in Hot Climate

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