21st Century Architecture Manifesto

FORMULA + INTERACTIVE ARCHITECTURE Σ BIOMIMICRY + PARAMETRICISM = SUSTAINABILITY AN ARCHITECTURE MANIFESTO

BY CHHAY KOURNG (WILLIAM) LAY_ 1224215 Tutor: Dr. Jonathan Lovell ABPL90117_2021 SM2

Twenty-First Century Architecture The University of Melbourne 2021, Chhay Kourng (William) Lay 1224215 Tutor: Dr. Jonathan Lovell COVER PAGE- Chhay Kourng (William) Lay

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CONTENTS Introduction

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Chapter 1: What is Biomimicry?

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Chapter 2: How can we implement Parametricism in design?

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Chapter 3: How can the symbiosis between Biomimicry and Parametricism aid to improve sustainability and efficiency of building?

p. 18-23

Conclusion

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Works Cited

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Nature has constantly evolved over the last 3.8 billion years, making it the most undeniably useful source of knowledge that will help us solve the problems that we are currently facing.

As we may already know, our current building industry is by far one of the most unsustainable industries.

Our damaging actions in the past must be rectified and our present actions should be more conscientious to ensure that this industry does not ruin the planet for future generations. In this context, the concept of ‘biomimicry’ has drawn much interest from many young architects and designers who are seeking to adapt natural forms and translate ecological knowledge into architectural design.

During my undergraduate years, I was extremely fascinated by the naturalistic aesthetics, cultures, and relationships that humans create with their homes. I was fortunate enough to have been able to study sustainable development, which marked the beginning of my design journey. I firmly believe that architecture with bioinspiration at the core will succeed in achieving true sustainability in the future, as we are now moving towards the ecological era of humankind.

The first part of this manifesto unveils an in-depth understanding of biomimicry and establishes a connection between history and the field of architecture. The second part investigates how we can implement the parametric design to recreate the evolutionary conditions of the biological paradigms in architecture.

The final chapter in the manifesto elaborates on how the symbiosis among biomimicry, parametricism and interactive architecture aids in achieving true sustainability.

Prologue:

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NATURAL JUNGLE

CONCRETE JUNGLE

Source: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/150237337556576866/ https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/673077106817247933/

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Chapter One: What is Biomimicry?

The word ‘biomimicry’ has its origins in ancient Greek language from the word ‘bios’, which means life, and ‘mimesis’, which means to imitate. It is a means of learning from nature and then emulating nature’s form, processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs. 1

Source: https://www.lombardodier.com/contents/corporate-news/media-releases/2020/ june/lombard-odier-and-the-wwf-launch.html

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Bi omi mi cry was i ni tia ll y i ntro d uc e d i n the s c i e nti f i c li te rature i n 2

19 62, wi th a few expe r ts prefe r r i ng the te r m ‘ b i o m i m eti c s’ . Ove r the l ast few dec ades , the re ha s b e e n i nc re a s e d i nte re st i n b i omi mi cry among archi te c ts a nd d e si g ne r s d ue to the i nspi rati o n by theori st Jani ne B e nyus, a b i o l o g i c a l s c i e nc e w r i te r. H e r extensi ve res earch on b i o m i m i c r y ha s ex pa nd e d o ur pe rc e pti o ns by devel opi ng susta i na b l e s o l uti o ns fo r f uture g e ne rati o ns. As she stated, ‘ Bi omi mi c r y i s the c o ns c i o us e m ul ati o n of nature’s geni us. ’

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Throughout hi story, a rc hi te c ts have c o nsi d e re d b i o l o g y a s a “model , measure and m e nto r ” fo r a rc hi te c tura l i nspi rati o n a nd have frequentl y l eve ra g e d i t a s a n a ppro a c h fo r s o l vi ng hum a n i ssues. H owever, i f b i o m i m i c r y i s a tr ue revo l uti o n i n s o l vi ng the probl em of the buil t e nvi ro nm e nt , w hy a re we o nl y b e g i nni ng to wi tness thi s phenome no n to d ay ?

Sources:

1. Biomimicry 3.8, “What Is Biomimicry?”, 2016 2. Aziz and El sherif, 2016 3. Pawlyn, 2016, pg 18

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T h e fact is t hat the f ie ld of archi tecture has l ong drawn i nspi rati on f ro m nature. S o m e e l e g a nt exa m pl e s i n c l u d e in the wo rk of Antoni a Gaudi , who transl ated the organi c styl e i nspi re d by natura l fo r m s i nto the S a g rad a Fam ilia p ro je ct . Whil st Gaudi was uni quel y tal ented i n maki ng the s e fo r m s b oth a e stheti c a ll y a nd st r u c t urally s o und , he was buil di ng off the work of Gothi c archi tects a nd the A r t N o uve a u m ove m e nt , w hi c h h ave c o nne ctio ns to nat ura l precedents. The structural trenches and b ra nc h c o l um ns of the nave that he l p s u p p o rt t he vault and ro of a re good i ndi c ators that archi tects and des i g ne r s have b e e n previ o usl y i nf l ue nc e d by n at ure in t he ir archite ct ural embelli shments. H owever, they di d not atte m pt to o r have the o ppo r tuni ty to re l ate this dire ct ly to the b uil t env i ronment .

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The Natural World The tree is a tall plant with a trunk and branches that can grow to a considerable height and size.

Source: https://salisburygreenhouse.com/the-benefits-of-big-trees/

The Artificial World Project: Sagrada Familia project Built: 1882- 2026 Architect: Antonia Gaudi The Column structure is inspired by tree trunk and branch.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/272045633713699481/

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G audi’s nove l L a Sag rada Famili a structure was desi gned accordi ng to pa ra m etr i c m o d e l s. I nd e e d , h e did not have acce s s to three-di mensi onal (3 D) computati ona l s oft wa re d ur i ng that ti m e, b ut he b as e d his wo rk o n t he structural form of the buil di ng from a mode l he m a d e by ha ng i ng we i g hte d b a g a n d string s f ro m vario us poi nts from a ceili ng. Thus, he was abl e to d e si g n the m o st eff i c i e nt po i nt a rc h syste m to s upp o rt the buil di ng wei ght . Thi s earl y parametri c m o d e l pave d the way fo r the di g i ta l te chno lo g y that is currentl y us ed i n s ol v i ng compl ex system and provi d e d a rc hi te c ts a nd d e si g ne r s wi t h new po s s ib ilit ie s to di s cover a contemporary bi omi mi cry di a l o g ue.

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Parametric Model

Source: https://chrispythoughts.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/la-sagrada-familia/

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Chapter Two: How can we implement Parametricism in design?

‘The most powerful and challenging use of the computer is in learning how to make a simple organisation (the computer) model what is intrinsic about a complex, infinitely entailed organization (the nature or real system)’. 4

Source: https://amfg.ai/2019/07/24/7-complex-designs-achieved-with-3d-printing/

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In today ’s modern worl d, the b i o m i m i c r y i nd ustr y i s c ha ra c te r i ze d by new devel opments i n com pute r-a i d e d d e si g n (CA D ) a nd c o m pute r-a i d ed manufacturi ng (CAM) te c hno l o g i e s that a re a b l e to re c re ate the evol uti onary fi el d of forc e that we s e e i n the b i o l o g i c a l wo r l d .

An extensi ve obs ervati on of nature reve a l s that num e ro us b i o l o g i c a l organi sms are i ncl uded i n the c o ntext of c re ati ng eff i c i e nc y. Nature i s brilli ant i n usi ng materi a l s that a re ofte n m o st eff i c i e nt w he n e m pl oye d i n structural el ements; the b e havi o ur of the s e e l e m e nts re spo nd s to the env i ronment . Param etr i c i sm i s not a b o ut c o pyi ng pro d uc ts; i t i s about creati ng a proces s thro ug h w hi c h eff i c i e nt o b je c ts e m e rg e. H ow are computati onal desi g ns us e d to fa b r i c ate str uc ture s o r fa c a d e s that are as effi ci ent as the o ne s di s c ove re d i n nature? The fo ll ow i ng c a s e studi es will reveal the i mpo r ta nc e of c o nf l ue nc e i n pa ra m etr i c d e si g n and bi omi mi cry to hel p m i ni m i s e the us a g e of m ate r i a l s a nd re s o urc e s.

Sources:

4. Kwinter, 2003, pg 91

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Biomimicry of ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion

Pat r ik Schum ache r ad vo c ated for parametri ci sm as a new movement i n a rc hi te c ture fo ll ow i ng m o d e r ni sm .

Hi s t h e o ry claim e d that all desi gn tasks, from urbani sm to the l evel of te c to ni c d eta il , a re c o nc e r ne d w i th st r u c t ural, ad apt ive variat ion and conti nuous di fferenti ati on. 5 The I CD/ ITK E Re s e a rc h Pavili o n d e si g ne d i n 2 01 4 -201 5 is an exce lle nt exampl e of the us e of the bi ometri c concept of the wate r spi d e r. The d e si g ne r s re s e arche d and o b s e rve d the weav i ng process of the behav i oural patte r ns of wate r spi d e r s a nd i nte g rate d t h e m into a p aram etric process.

B as e d o n the stud y of b io logi c al constructi on process es, the pav ili on d e si g n e m pl oye d f ib re c o m po si te m ate r i a l to re info rce the st ruc ture; fibre was found to be a hi ghl y effecti ve m ate r i a l that wa s a l s o f unc ti o na ll y i nte g rate d . Re cre ating co mpl ex natural fibre structures c annot be do ne thro ug h tra di ti o na l hum a n m etho d s.

T h i s m e ans that param etrici sm pl ays a si gni fi c ant rol e i n understa ndi ng b i o l o g i c a l m ate r i a l m o r pho l o g y, w h i c h le ad s to innovat ive constructi on and manufacturi ng process e s. The refo re, the prototype d e m o n st rates that param etric d e si gn prov i des an exampl e of a hi ghl y res ourc e -eff i c i e nt m etho d that c o ul d pote nt i a ll y exte nd the app lic at ion of bi omi mi cry.

Sources:

5. Parametricism as Style, “Parametricist Manifesto”, 2019

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The Natural World Water Spider (Agyroneda Aquatica) spends most of its life underwater.

So it constructs a reinforced air bubble to survive.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com/770516/icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15-icd-itkeuniversity-of-stuttgart

The Artificial World Project: Sagrada Familia project Built: 1882- 2026 Architect: Antonia Gaudi The Column structure is inspired by tree trunk and branch.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com/770516/icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15-icd-itkeuniversity-of-stuttgart

DIAGRAM Structure process and pattern analysis to minimise material consumption through using parametric software.

Source: https://www.archdaily.com/770516/ icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart

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Biomimicry of Aguahoja by Neri Oxman According to Geoff Hollington’s theory, technology now challenges the three traditional ways of creating things. The old methods can be subtractive in moulding and forming. New approaches will pioneer additive approaches that approximate the molecular manufacturing that occurs in biology.6

A great example is none other than Neri Oxman, who has extensively researched the digital design computation that operates at the junction of robotic fabrication, materials engineering and synthetic biology in response to and from the environment. Oxman created the pavilion’s skin from molecular components containing cellulose, chitosan, and pectin, the same materials that originate from tree branches, insect exoskeletons and human bones. The novelty of these synthetic materials could potentially enable sustainable design, as they are computer-driven and are manufactured to generate a form and composition that is very similar to the biological world. Unlike ICD/ ITKE Research Pavilion, the computational design of Oxman uses synthetic materials. The usefulness of biomimicry and parametricism of Aguahoja design lies in its ability to react and respond to changing environmental conditions (i.e. heat, humidity and sunlight). This indicates that computation design enables control over physical properties and is responsive to climate conditions that function in a similar manner to those in the biological world.

Overall, the parametric design has fundamentally changed how we have designed for millennia and the procedures more akin to the evolutionary processes of nature. The abovementioned pavilion projects demonstrate the process of leveraging emergent solutions to achieve building efficiency, thereby setting an important principle in paving the way for more ambitious architectural projects.

Sources: 6. Pawlyn, 2016, pg. 141

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The Artificial World

The Artificial World

The pavilion skin was generated through computational design in response to the climate conditions.

Detail of a structural membrane (cm) was created via a robotic manufacturing platform.

Source: https://oxman.com/projects/aguahoja

Source: https://oxman.com/projects/aguahoja

DIAGRAM Demonstrates the process of pavilion skin through computational design. https://oxman.com/projects/aguahoja

Structural Forces

Environmental Forces

Intrinsic Hybration Forces

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Chapter 3: How can the symbiosis between Biomimicry, Parametricism and Interactive Architecture aid in improving the sustainability and efficiency of buildings?

As Rupert Soar and J. Scott Turner have argued, the direction in which we need to be heading is towards buildings that are extended organisms, where function and structure meld and are controlled by the overriding demands of homeostasis.7

Source: https://arquitecturaplusingenio.blogspot. com/2011/11/mediatic-22-bcn.html

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M ost li v i ng syste m s have the i r ow n uni que a ppro a c he s to gai n an d s ave e ne rg y that i s vi ta l to the i r sur vi va l .

Si mil arl y, buil di ng s c a n b e tre ate d like li vi ng syste m s.

Archi tects , d e si g ne r s a nd e ng i ne e r s have b e c o m e cogni zant of b i o l o g i c a l pr i nc i pl e s a nd have tra nsfe r re d thes e know l e d g e i nto b uil di ng c o nstr uc ti o n to b e a b l e to transi ti o n towa rd s s e l f-susta i ni ng o rg a ni sm s that c an s ource e ne rg y f ro m the e nvi ro nm e nt . I t i s b e li eve d that bi omi m i c r y a nd pa ra m etr i c i sm i n d e si g n w ill b e fundament a l to a c hi eve hi g h pe r fo r m a nc e, a s we ll a s affordabl e a nd c re ati ve a rc hi te c tura l d e si g n that i ts roots i n nature.

Sources:

7. Pawlyn, 2016, p. 296

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Biomimetic Structural by Giacomo Matte-Trucco

P rofe s s o r Julian Vincent has stated that i n nature, materi al s are ex pe nsi ve a nd sha pe i s c he a p. 8 I n t his c as e, t he Fiat Factory i n Turi n desi gned by Gi acomo Matte -Tr uc c o i s a pi o ne e r wo r k that m ad e us e of re info rce d concrete that took i nspi rati on from the und e r si d e of a V i c to r i a re g i a l e af.

Matte -Trucco d eve lo p ed the structural l ayout of the fl oor sl ab to atta i n eve n g re ate r eff i c i e nc y. The di a lo g ue aro und s ust ainabl e devel opment and technol ogy frequentl y i ndi c ate s that i t i s not suff i c i e nt to m e re ly m inim is e co sts. M atte-Trucco’s desi gn proves that whe n b i o m i m i c r y i s c o m b i ne d w i th the i n g e nuity of param etrici sm, i t coul d l ead to extraordi nary effi ci enc y i n te r m s of re s o urc e s a nd sus t a inab ility d uring b uilding constructi on.

Sources: 8. Pawlyn, 2016, pg. 34

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The Natural World

The Artificial World

X-ray image of the underside of a Victoria Regia Leaf. This demonstrates how vigorous structures are created in the natural world with minimum use of resources.

Project: Fiat Factory in Turin Architect: Giancomo Matte-Trucco The project used examples from the Victoria Regia Leaf to inspire an even greater efficient structure.

Source: https://dodona.ugent.be/en/exercises/1438170040/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/593278950900449337/

Design Area

Structural layout DIAGRAM

The process to solve the structural and materials solutions in the combination of biomimicry led to achieving the efficiency of resources.

Source: Chhay Kourng Lay (2021)

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Biomimetic Building System by Cloud 9

In theory, it is believed that techno-fixes are the path to global eco-friendliness. This phenomenon has been labelled as ‘technocentrism’.9 The Media-TIC building designed by Cloud 9 is an excellent example of achieving climate adaptive building skins (CABS). Notably, CABS technology can adapt and change the functions, features or behaviours of a building in response to climate conditions, thereby improving the overall building efficiency. Various studies have demonstrated how building façades can suffer from over 40% heat loss in winter and overheating in summer. 10 Buildings operate in a similar fashion to biological organisms, that is, they use a wide array of sensors and adaptive façades that monitor occupancy, light, temperature and humidity to deliver near-zero energy. The technology costs less than 0.01% of the total construction budget which, in turn, leads to a reduction of 20% energy compared with that used in conventional buildings.

As evident from the case studies presented, a combination of biomimicry and parametricism helps in the sustainable design process by providing high performance, optimal usage of materials and affordability.

Sources:

9. Marshall, and Lozeva, 2009, pg. 3 10. Barozzi M, Lienhard J, Zanelli, A & Monticelli C, 2016, pg. 276

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The Artificial World

The Artificial World

Project: The Media-TIC building, Designed: Cloud 9 The project uses hundreds of sensors and an adaptive façade to strive for a net-zero energy building.

Detail of climate adaptive building skins (CABS) that are similar to the biological world in response to changing performance requirements.

Source: https://arch5541.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/cloud9-media-tic/

Source: https://arch5541.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/cloud9-media-tic/

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As t h e wo rld face s c at astro phi c cli mate changes, dearth of res ources and a d e pl eti ng e c o syste m , i t i s hi g h ti m e fo r a rc h i te ct ure to m ake the move towards ecocentri sm rather than foc us s o l e l y o n the a spe c ts of d e si g n a nd s p a c e. B i om im icry is a co m p e lli ng theme that prov i des us wi th the s ol uti o ns to re s o l ve pro b l e m s a nd a d a pt to h u m an n ee d s t hat have b e e n c ompromi s ed i n recent years. The symbi os i s b et we e n b i o m i m i c r y a nd the ex i sti ng p ara m et r icis m te chno lo g y e na bl es us to achi eve energy and materi al eff i c i e nc y, a s we ll a s c o st-effe c ti ve ne ss.

T h e l ast few d e c ad e s have increasi ngl y proved that humans are becomi ng i ng e ni o us w hil e d e a li ng w i th re s o urc e c o n st rai nt s . I nd e e d , hum ans have become acutel y cons ci ous of the i mpa c ts of the i r a c ti o ns o n the natura l e n v i ro n m e nt , w hich s ig nif ic antly contributes to sustai nabl e devel opment . I n c o nte m po ra r y a rc hi te c ture, the a i m i s n ot o n l y to cre ate a s pace that i s evoc ati ve of or mi mi c s nature but rathe r, to m a r r y nature w i th a rc hi te c ture.

S h o u l d t he s e revo lutio nary id eas be accel erated ? If we desi re to create a stro ng e r a nd m o re susta i na b l e b uil t e nv i ro n m e nt , we m ust d e cid e swi ftl y and undertake radi c al changes i n o ur d e si g n fo r m ul a to tra nsfo r m i t i nto

Σ Biomimicry + Parametricism + Interactive Architecture= Sustainability

Epilogue:

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WORK CITED SOUCRES: Biomimicry 3.8, “What is Biomimicry?”, 2016. https://biomimicry.net/what-is-biomimicry/ Aziz, Moheb Sabry, and Amr Y. El sheriff, “Biomimicry as an Approach for Bio-Inspired Structure with the Aid of Computation.”, 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016815001702 Kwinter, Sanford, “The Computational Fallacy.” Thresholds, 2003. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43876166?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.

Pawlyn, Michael. Biomimicry in Architecture. United Kingdom. RIBA Publishing, 2016 Parametricism as Style, “Parametricist Manifesto.” 2008. Patrikschumacher.com. 2019. https://www.patrikschumacher.com/Texts/Parametricism%20as%20Style.htm.

A. Marshall & S. Lozeva, “Questioning the Theory and Practice of Biomimicry”, 2009. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235990489_Questioning_the_theory_and_practice_of_biomimicry Barozzi M, Lienhard J, Zanelli, A & Monticelli C, “The sustainability of Adaptive Envelopes: Developments of Kinetic Architecture”, 2016. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1877705816321701?token=732CB075CB2EC6DFCF92FC29E1952CC0601D6B1BD5 71698109C750DD3E04BAD6CC3A402B66CFB94F12E62B930991DFE8&originRegion=us-east- 1&originCreation=20211004235807

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