The Effect of Biological Principles on Architectural Design - Essay Example

The Anas Alsheekhli number: 13820207 The March architecture Studio The number of the words: 4004 The effect of biological principles on the architectural design Toward a sustainable approach Introduction Nature has been one of the most sophisticated inspirations in architecture since the beginning of time. One of the architectural design approaches inspired by nature is biomimicry. Biomimicry is the approach on creating artificial items based on nature’s design. It has been recently spread out not only in architecture, but also in other fields such as medicine, ergonomic design, and other sciences. According to (Benyus, 2002) and (Pawlyn, 2011) in each of these fields, nature has tested and developed strategies billions of years ago to optimize the stability and weight of natural mechanical structures. Sponges can be examined in order to create more efficient buildings. Nature also optimizes energy consumptions and the elasticity of biomaterial. It introduces an era where expectations are not what to extract from nature, but rather what can be learn from it (Benyus, 2002) and (Pawlyn, 2011). This new era (Benyus, 1997) defines biomimicry as a new science that uses nature’s models as an inspiration to study the design, in order to find a solution to solve human problems. The concept of using nature as a model for manufactured products is not a new. Although Biomimicry has created a radical change, the architectural community and peoples’ perception of the contemporary building has not been positive. Like most new trends, some criticism has been raised against this approach. Biomimicry should be incorporated into inspirational architectural designs. The aim of this essay is to investigate how to create a natural design by exploring the link between the biological principles on the architectural design. The first part of this essay will discuss the background of biomimicry. The second part of the paper will focus on the principles of biometry and the relative approaches. The third part of the essay will discuss the effectiveness of the levels of biomimicry. In the last part the paper will illustrate some drawbacks against biomimicry Overview on Biomimicry In the English language, the creation of the term bionic (also known as biomimetic, biomimicry, bio-inspiration, biogenesis, biologically inspired design) probably originated from the Greek word bion (Iouguina, 2013). This word means life. Mimicry is to imitate or copy. Thus biomimicry is the imitating of life or living things. “Biomimicry from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate is a new discipline that studies natures best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example, it as "innovation inspired by nature" (Rao, 2014). The core idea is that nature, imaginative by necessity, has already solved many of the problems grappling with All these terms can be translated as an investigation that emulate the mechanisms and functions available in biology, engineering, design, chemistry and electronics applications of natural elements. The definition of biomimicry in relation to this paper is in relation to intertwining natural elements, nature, and sustainable architectural designs. Studying nature’s model requires an advanced technology to understand the materiality, structure, and behaviour in which conditions developed these systems. Recently, nature has been reflected in a new mode of imaging the interior structure of planet and microscopy that is based on the mathematics of its biological processes (Hensel, et al., 2010). The same author and his colleagues claim that there is a potential in relating pattern-processes with spatial and cultural parameters (Hensel, et al., 2010). As a result (Hensel, et al., 2010) the discovery of this approach has given a role to different specialists from various fields to share the knowledge in producing a correlated architecture to more material organizations and systems in natural world (Hensel, et al., 2010). Sustainable deigns are necessary for a growing world. These kind of nature inspired projects are allowing architects and designers to develop ecoperformance principles that can be used by industry professionals worldwide to build Biomimcry solutions into their own designs. In fact, under this new order of sustainability, buildings, outdoor art and other manmade structures would function like trees, meadows, flora and fauna, capturing, cleaning and storing rainwater; converting sunlight to energy and carbon dioxide to oxygen; protecting soil from erosion; disseminating seedlings; and eliminating waste. There is need for future young Architects and designers to Create bio-inspired design adaptations that emulate nature’s best ideas, so that all futuristic buildings will be sustainable. (Rao, 2014) Over population, carbon footprints and other impacts on the environment are concerning architects and scientists alike. Sustainable designs are designs that use recycled material, or designs that can sustain time. Nature tends to adapt to the Earth better than humans. Lessons can be learned by camels in the desert to sea life in order to make buildings cooler, greener, or even warmer. Everyday design issues like lighting, temperature, wind resistance and so forth can be solved by looking at nature’s example. The principles of biomimicry One of the most inspirational biologist nowadays is trying to categorise the main principles of recent biomimetic research to evaluate the designs and processes available in nature, which classifies these principles (Benyus, 2002). 1. “Nature as Model: Biomimicry is a science that studies nature’s models and emulates or takes inspiration from their designs and processes to solve human problems. 2. Nature as Measure: Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the rightness of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned, what works, what is appropriate, and what lasts. 3. Nature as Mentor: Biomimicry is a holistic way of viewing and valuing nature. It introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but on what we can learn from it (see Appendix A).” (Benyus, 2002) Since from the beginning of the twenty-first century the design and the construction of the buildings have been used through computer aided design (CAD) systems (Benyus, 2002). CAD allows architectural designs to be created from biomimicry. The substantial math involved in recreating these designs can be solved through CAD. The author (Benyus, 2002) goes ahead to argue that these forms have fulfilled the design purpose to be close to nature. The author explains that nature’s experience in design and manufacturing material adapt to specific conditions which are more efficient that human beings have developed. Examples are beehives, anthills and other natural designs. Hence, a concept will be much more mature, if the creation of innovative design and manufacturing inspiration come from natural phenomena rather than attempting to mimic them (Benyus, 2002). Architectural designs need to be inspired by nature, not by duplicating the natural element being emulated. How to Find Mentors in Nature The consultancy Biomimicry 3.8 recommends doing biomimicry as an eight-step process (Helms, et al., 2009): 1. Define the problem and context well 2. Identify the function desired, translating into biological terms 3. Integrate life principles 4. Discover natural models 5. Abstract the biological strategies you found into general principles 6. Brainstorm off of the principles gathered from the mentors 7. Emulate the biological design principles as buildable things. 8. Measure the success of your top ideas, using lifes principles, and choose the best buildable idea. Defining the problem in a design can range from simple to impossible. For example, lighting and cooling might be an issue. By studying leave patterns can help a design overcome this problem, or rearranging window panes or tinting the windows. Identifying the function desire and then translating into biological terms might seem farfetched, but designers with a strong grasp of biology can accomplish this feat. Designers do not have to be profiecent in biology, but can collaborate with scientists to create a design or better understand the biomimicry being undertaken. Integrating life principles into a design is a must for all designs. This step is self-explanatory. Life principles vary from design to design, but must be part of the design as a whole. Natural models are easy to discover. A hike in the park, a trip to the beach or on vacation can lead to a discovery. The matrix of sponge can lead to a building being built stronger and more resilient. Inspiration is all around designers, it is just a matter of paying attention to the nature. Biological strategies do not have to be literal. A building or design does not have to be made of sponge material, just the shape or makeup imitated. Nature should be an inspiration, not the whole creation of a design. The inspiration needs to be transformed into artificial designs. Brainstorming is good on any design, but in biomimicry it is a necessity. Not every individual can translate nature into a buildable design. More than one opinion, no matter how outlandish, can created an innovative design that solves the problems presented. As mentioned above, the inspiration from nature must eventually transfer into buildable things. Nature can be the inspiration, but will be useless if the idea cannot be built. After brainstorming, the best option has to be taken. The success of the design will depend on a plan of action that is most likely to be sustainable and solve the problems presented. Approaches in biomimicry Transferring nature to engineering can be performed by different approaches (Zari, 2007). Bar Cohen Y. mentions "approaching nature in engineering terms needs to sort biological Capabilities along technical categories using a top-down structure or vice versa” (Zari, 2007). Approaches to biomimicry as a design process typically fall into two categories: Defining a human need or design problem and looking to the ways other organisms or ecosystems solve this, termed here design looking to biology, or identifying a particular characteristic, behaviour or function in an organism or ecosystem and translating that into human designs, referred to as biology influencing design. (Zari, 2007) The author (Zari, 2007) classifies these two methods listed below. Biology influencing design The biology influencing design is a collaborative design process that is based on people having knowledge of relevant biological research rather than on human design problems. The author explains that this approach needs a scientific understanding in nature, or biomimicry. An example of this analysis is the lotus flower emerging clean from swampy waters. (See Appendix B & E). Design looking to biology It is the collaborative approach between architects and biologist. Architects identify design problems, along with the parameters. Biologist investigate particular organisms. Architects and biologist solve the similar issues together. However, it is agreed that with a shallow observation to the nature without a scientific understating cannot make an imitation close to natural (Benyus, 2002). An obvious example mentioned by (Zari, 2007) is the Daimler Chrysler bionic car which design has taken a different approaches inspired by nature to provide flow without friction. This allows the car to save more energy. The car’s design form is based on aerodynamic box fish that make the care flow efficiently (Zari, 2007). Another factor that constitute to its performance is the lightweight structure that mimics the principles of the branches created its structure and material where the stress constriction need (see Appendix C a E). As (Zari, 2007) points out: ...possible implications of architectural design, where biological analogues are matched with human identified design problems, are that the fundamental approach to solving a given problem, and the issue of how buildings relate to each other and the ecosystems they are part of, is not examined. The underlying causes of a non-sustainable or even degenerative built environment are not therefore necessarily addressed with such an approach. Levels of biomimicry to understand its application in architecture According to (Zari, 2007) three levels of biomimetic have been categorized into “form, process and ecosystem” in order to solve design problems (see Appendix F). The writer (Zari, 2007) states that “form and process are characteristic of an organism or ecosystem while ecosystem represents environmental performance of the built environment.” Within each of the flowing levels, the design may be biomimetic according to one or more these dimensions: “Form‟ (What it looks like) “Material‟ (What it is made out of) “Construction‟ (How it is made) “Process‟ (How it works) “Function‟ (What it is able to do). (Zari, 2007) The organism level “The organism level refers to a specific organism like a plant or animal, and may include mimicking part of or the whole organism” (El Ahmar, 2011). However, mimicking an organism alone, without mimicking its relationship to the context might produce a conventional design affecting its performants in terms of environmental impact (Reed, 2006). An example of prosses biomimcry at the organinism level is Gherkin Tower which is situated in London. This exceptional piece of architecture was designed by Norman foster. According to (Rao, 2014) the outside is a hexagonal skin. This design was inspired by the Venus Flower Basket Sponge. The lattice like exoskeleton consist of the various levels of fibrous lattice that helps to disperse stresses on the organism (in this case the building) in various directions. Additionally, its round shape minimise forces because of the strong water currents. Since both of these natural phenomenon were applied to Foster’s design of the tower, it is suggested that there an overlap lab between different levels of biomimcrey to accomplish the effeminacy in sustainable architecture (see Appendix G). Originally the goals of the purpose of the Gherkin (Munro, n.d.) were: “● A net office floor area within the building of around 500,000 ft2 (46,450 m2) ●The enhancement of the public environment at street level, opening up new views across the site to the frontages of the adjacent buildings and allowing good access to and around the new development ●Minimum impact on the local wind environment ●Maximum use of public transport for the occupants of the building ●Flexibly serviced, high specification ‘user-friendly’ column free office spaces with maximum primary space adjacent to natural light ●Good physical and visual interconnectivity between floors ●Reduced energy consumption by use of natural ventilation whenever suitable, low façade heat gain and smart building control systems Both architects and biologists were needed to complete this tower and fulfil the design purpose. Modern-day architects and engineers can gain much insight and inspiration by studying living things like with the Gherkin Tower. At the level of genes and DNA, civil engineers may be able to develop a completely new approach to their work. Using so called genetic algorithms, they may be able to imitate the biological processes of genetic crossover, mutation and evolution in computer simulations to create optimized designs. This was used in the Gherkin Tower. The Gherkin design (Munro, n.d.) needed advanced geometric and mathematical equations: A fundamental characteristic of the Swiss Re building is the use of a consistent unifying system combined with a constantly varying geometry vertically through the building. This type of geometry is particularly suited to a parametric design approach: many of the detailed design conditions can be investigated by setting up fixed mathematical relationships between a relatively limited numbers of geometric parameters defining the building shape. Another example of biomimicry is a lily pad city being created in the event the Earth sea levels rise. There are very few urban design solutions that address housing the inevitable tide of displaced people that could arise as oceans swell under global warming. Certainly none are spectacular as this one. The Lilypad, by Vincent Callebaut, is a concept for a completely selfsufficient floating city intended to provide shelter for future climate change. Biomimicry concept implemented in the building Lilypad created as a water lily is planned to be a nil emission city floating in the deep. By means of several technologies, it is predicted that the plan would be capable of not only generating its individual power, but also dealing with CO2 in the surroundings. A fully self-reliant floating city aimed to afford protection for upcoming climate variation immigrants. (Pawlyn, 2011) Like the Gherkin Tower, this design solves a problem by mimicking nature. The computer design helped the architect to keep the design true to purpose, but use nature as an inspiration. The behaviour level biomimicry It’s approached on mimics either the behaviour of the organism or the relationship between the organism and species (El Ahmar, 2011). Limitation in nature is a creative factor that can push adapt specific conditions (Benyus, 1997). An example of this is Zimbabwe and the CH2 Building in Melbourne, Australia which is based on the termite mould that is used chiming to regulate temperature (Lovell, n.d.). The writer (Lovell, n.d.) explains by removing heat from at night via opening windows at the sixty-five degrees to allow natural night air penetrate through building which causes the heat to be sucked across the ceiling to the roof top through the shift at the side of building with the assistance of the wind (see Appendix H). Ecosystem biomimicry An integral part of biometry is based on the underdoing of the ecology which is depended upon in the regenerated design (Zari, 2007). It is described as a process that restore, renew its own resource and system creating sustainable environment that cover human needs. An advantage of this approach that can be applicable on different spatial scales, time and level which can be a key element to the integer and sustainable design. For example, Masdar City is considered as one of the most (Foster, 2012) mixed use friendly environment city around the world. It is evident by some writers (Foster, 2012) that they are many significate key elements that contributes with ecological atmosphere created in these projects. Masdar City is situated clearly and strategically near the Abu Dhabi airport. The city was built using Arabic traditional architecture combined with advances technologies. It was designed by the British architect Norman Foster who is one of the leading architect around the world. The ultimate goal in this project is to achieve the high quality life and the lowest environmental environment. First multi-cooling device have been used in this project which is based on the systematic studies (Foster, 2012). The site has been lifted above the ground to create more opportunity for the wind penetrating within the city (Foster, 2012). Additionally the orientation of the pathways are based on the direction of the day and night winds which produce at the end a wind turbulence to create a natural cooling effect (Foster, 2012). Moreover the size of the spaces, including the green area available in Masdar City have also contributed to regulate the temperature within during day and night (Foster, 2012) (see Appendix I). The inspiration for the Masdar City was from the past. “If we want to look far to the future we should look far back” (Foster, 2012). Foster studied bio life and the desert in order to create a different more sustainable design. Foster examined the camel in which has adapted toward the extreme climate that surrounds. The camel has the sense that allows for the temperature to move up and down unlike the humans. The latter studies of Foster analysed many desired communities, the first move is the orientation and the significant reduction of the air temperature (Foster, 2012). The desert needed to feel cooler to humans in order to make it more comfortable. What acclimate there liberating the pedestrian domain it is very much a learning curve from traditional environment which considered the orientation an impotent tool in terms of relationship to the north and south density moving across. The temperature in Dubai is hotter than the desert. Foster analysed different surfaces in the Dubai downtown where there of the lack asphalt and the western building style. Foster found out that temperature which gave rise to the radiant temperature that what humans feel. Even though the air temperature is 37c but you feel temperature hotter because of the reflective surfaces. Three elements have taken into account in designing suitable city. Orientation and city walls Beyond walls the designer studies ancient cities in order to learn effective methods of reducing energy consumptions walls help to keep the high desert winds from the city inhabitants. The entire foundation pm the site is a few feet above the surrounding to keep the Mazder City cooler. Another technique was to have the space between the building closer to the street and the walkway mostly in the shade. These methods are combined with the tall central wind tunnel to suck air from the above and converted into a cool breeze blowing in the street. Every aspect of the city have been designed to reduce energy demands. The city’s north orientation reduces exposure to the hot and sun. Parks and green spaces create green oasis where water features evaporate to cool surrounding air. As result there is no need for the streets to be made within the area. Transportation Masdar City will feature the first large-scale zero emission transportation system. The subway and personalized electric cars that carry people in the lower level will reduce transportation emissions. In addition a ground level train and metro high-speed train keep the Masder citizens well connected. The distance will never be further from 250m from public transport. Without fossil oil Masdar City can be smaller and feature narrow streets. This means more shade and lower temperature so people can walk interact and play Energy conception, Water and waste treatment The buildings are powered by green energy constructed using sustainable building materials and designed to reduce energy and water consumption by 40%. The city designed aims to reduce electricity and water demands through smart buildings and appliances that will monitor consumptions. Masdar City uses 18% less water than the conventional one. All waste is recycled or turned into energy. Water are can be recycled to irrigate the city landscape. PRINCIPLES OF BIOMIMICRY Nature runs on sunlight. Nature uses only the energy it needs. Nature fits form to function. Nature recycles everything. Nature rewards cooperation. Nature banks on diversity. Nature demands local expertise. Nature curbs excesses from within. Nature taps the power of limits Criticism against biomimicry In spite of the many befits from the biomimicry in architecture to create sustainable environments, there are some drawbacks causing increased outcries by many against biomimicry. One critic (Kaplinsky, 2004) points out that “it seeks to cut humanity and human achievement down to size” notifying that there is a contradiction between nature and human being in terms of industrial design. There are also a complex network in people society and their design work within. The writer (Kaplinsky, 2004) adds that the design is always initiated for users while biomimicry is created from the design problems based on the users. Finally many of the biomimetic project have been a paper products that never been produced (Kaplinsky, 2004). Even though biomimicry have become an attractive design approach by many designers in different fields, it has not been fascinated by firms to commercialise the product (Kaplinsky, 2004). In conclusion Pollution has always associated with the consumption of energy which depends primarily on the fossil foil, as a result it causes a diverse changes to the environment. Biomimicry can be a solution for this problem as ature is the best source of the new ideas that allow us to go beyond a standard approach to the sustainable design and achieve restorative solutions. If designers could learn to do things and make things in the way that nature does humans could really achieve radial increase in resource efficiency. The creativity of nature’s design are driven from limitation to be adapted with. If designers use biomimicry to create sustainable designs, humans would consume less energy and water through the relationship with the other organisms and the ecosystem. For 8.3 billion years nature has done and develop extensive experiences in creating a sustainable design. Designers should not depend on nature only to generate forms, but also to indicate how this form will perform and behave within the environment. Possibility are only limited by our creativity and the ability to pay attention to the natural world that now has a new reason to conserve. Biomimicry should be incorporated into inspirational architectural designs in order to achieve this goal. References Anon., n.d. s.l.: s.n. Benyus, J., 2002. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. New York: Perennial. El Ahmar, S. A. S., 2011. Biomimicry as a tool for sustainable architectural design; Towards Morphogentic Architecture, s.l.: Alexandria Univeristy. Foster, N., 2012. Performance, s.l.: s.n. Helms, M., S., S. S. & Goel, A. K., 2009. Biologically inspired design process and products. pp. 606-622. Hensel, M., Menges, A. & & Weinstock, M., 2010. Emergent Technologies and Design: Towards a biological paradigm for architecture.. New York: Routledge. Iouguina, A., 2013. Biologically Informed Disciplines: A comparative analysis of terminology within the fields of bionics, bionmimetics, and biomimicry., s.l.: Google Scholar. Kaplinsky, J., 2004. Biomimcry versus Humanism, s.l.: Architectural Desighn. Lovell, S., n.d. Uncube Magazine. [Online] Available at: http://www.uncubemagazine.com/sixcms/detail.php?id=14985963&articleid=art-1417432737585-ff812809-4f88-466a-9d37-09fd2d5bac1d#!/page49 Munro, D., n.d. Swiss Res Building, London, London: Ove Arup and Partners. Pawlyn, M., 2011. Biomimicry in Architecture. London: RIBA Publishing . Rao, R., 2014. Biomimicry in Architecture. International Journal of Advanced Research in Civil, Structural, Envionmental and Infastructure Engineering and Developing, April.1(3). Reed, B., 2006. Shifting our Mental Model-Sustainability to REgeneration. Sarasota: s.n. Zari, M., 2007. Biomimetic Approaches to Architectural Design for Sustainability.. Auckland, Sustainable Building Conference. Appendices Read More