Biomimicry in Architecture: Hindu School of Architecture SONIPAT 131001

HINDU SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
SONIPAT 131001
(AFFILIATED BY DEENBANDHU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
DISSERTATION REPORT
BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE
AS A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
DECEMBER 2018
Submitted by: Guided by:

ABHEY VERMA KIRTI ARORA
14025006002
B.Arch. Semester-09
DECLARATION
I, Abhey Verma , Roll Number, 14025006002 hereby declare that the dissertation
titled ‘ Biomimicry In Architecture ’ submitted by me, in partial fulfillment of the
requirement of the curriculum of Bachelor of Architecture as per the university norms, to
Hindu School of Architecture, is a record of my original work with credits given for
information collected from any other source.
ABHEY VERMA
14025006002
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the dissertation titled “ BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE ”,

submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the curriculum of Bachelor of
Architecture is the work of ABHEY VERMA., Roll Number 14025006002, who carried
out research work under our supervision in Hindu School of Architecture, Sonepat,
Haryana.
We recommend that the dissertation report be placed before the examiners for their
consideration.
____________________ _______________________ ____________________

KIRTI ARORA
Signature of the Guide Signature of the Mentor Signature of the External
Guide
STATEMENT FOR DISSERTATION PREPARATION
1. Dissertation Title: Biomimicry in Architecture

2. Specifications regarding Dissertation format have been closely followed as per
syllabus.
3. The contents of the dissertation have been organised as per the syllabus.
4. The dissertation has been prepared without restart to plagiarism.
5. All sources used have been citied appropriately.
6. The dissertation has not been submitted elsewhere for a degree.
Sign. of student
Name: AbheyVerma
Roll No.: 14025006002
Dissertation submitted on.............................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I Would like to express gratitude to my coordinator dissertation studio Ar. KIRTI ARORA,
for guiding and giving her useful suggestions. I am also thankful for their valuable
comments, suggestions and sharing the knowledge.
I am especially indebted to my family, for giving their love and support without which this
Dissertation would not have been possible. Above all thank the almighty God for all his
blessings
ABHEY VERMA
1. CHAPTER 1 - OVERVIEW
1.1. INTRODUCTION: -…………………………………………………………………4

1.2. AIM: -…………………….………………………………….…….......…………….5
1.3. OBJECTIVE: -……………………………………………………………………….5
1.4. SCOPE: -………………………………………………………………………....…..6
1.5. METHODOLOGY: -…………………………………………………………...........6
1.6. LIMITATION: -……………………………………………………………………...7
1.7. CONCLUSION: -……………………………………………………………...……..7
2. CHAPTER 2 - INTRODUCTION
2.1. BACKGROUND: -………………………………………...……………..…………..9

2.2. DEFINITION: -……………………………………...………………………………10
2.3. CONCEPT: -…………………………………………………………………………10
2.4. HISTORICAL ORIGIN: -……....................................................................................11
3. CHAPTER 3 - INFLUENCE OF BIOMIMICRY ON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
3.1. BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGY: -………………………………………..………….15

3.2. PRINCIPALS OF BIOMIMICRY: -……………...…………………………………..15
3.3. DESIGN APPROACHES: -…………………………………………………..………16
3.4. LEVELS OF BIOMIMICRY: -……………………………………………………….18
4. CHAPTER 4 - CASE STUDIES: APPLICATION OF BIOMIMICRY IN ARCH. DESIGN
4.1. INTRODUCTION: -…………………………………………………………………..20

4.2. LITRATURE STUDY 1: -……………………………………………...……………..21
4.3. LITRATURE STUDY 2: -……………………………………………….……………24
4.4. CASE STUDY 1: -……………………………………………………………….……27
4.5. CASE STUDY 2: -…………………………………………………………….………31
5. CHAPTER 5 - CONCLUSION (SUMMARY)
5.1. FINAL CONCLUSION: -……………………………………………………….…….35

5.2. BENEFITS OF BIOMIMICRY: -…………………………………………………..…35
5.3. CRITICISM: -…………………………………………………………………………36
5.4. FUTURE SCOPE: -………………………………………………………………...…37
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 - Janine Benyus .............................................................................................. 10
Figure 2 - Egyption Architecture .................................................................................... 11
Figure 3 - Taking Inspiration from trees......................................................................... 12
Figure 4 - Leonardo da Vinci’s model and the modern aero plane ................................ 13
Figure 5 – Beijing Olympic Stadium Algorithm .............................................................. 22
Figure 6 - Eastgate Centre Building Exterior, Interior and Section................................. 25
Figure 7 - Lotus Temple Perspective ............................................................................ 28
Figure 8 - Lotus temple Structure .................................................................................. 29
Figure 9 - Lotus temple Section .................................................................................... 30
Figure 10 - Biowonder Conceptual Sketch .................................................................... 32
Figure 11- Biowonder Sectionceptual SketchFigure 9 - Lotus temple Section ............... 33
2
CHAPTER 1 - OVERVIEW
 INTRODUCTION: -
 AIM: -
 OBJECTIVE: -
 SCOPE: -
 LIMITATION: -
 METHODOLOGY: -
 CONCLUSION: -
3
1.1 INTRODUCTION:
THIS DISSERTATION INTENDS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CREATING AN
ARCHITECTURE THAT IS CONSIDERATE OF NATURE AND ITS ABILITY TO TRANSFORM A
DWELLING INTO AN ENLIVENED SPACE.
IN TODAY'S INCREASINGLY URBAN LANDSCAPE, WHERE POWER AND MONEY HAVE
BECOME THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE, IT IS HARD TO FIND A PLACE WHERE ONE CAN BE AT
PEACE WITH NATURE. ARCHITECTURE HAS SIMPLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THE
INCREASING SPACE DEMAND, AND HAS THUS LOST ITS CONNECTION WITH ITS
ENVIRONMENT. RATHER THAN BUILDING WITH RESPECT TO PLACE AND DRAWING ON
THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF A SITE, EMPHASIS IS ON QUICK-BUILD AND MASS
PRODUCTION.
THE STUDY DISCUSSES THUS THE ARCHITECTS WHO DEMONSTRATE A RADICAL DESIGN
APPROACH QUESTIONING AND REASSESSING THE NORMS OF ARCHITECTURE . WHY
SHOULD WE PRODUCE NUMEROUS COPIES OF ONE STYLE? SURELY EACH INDIVIDUAL
PROJECT SHOULD BE APPROACHED AS SUCH- EXCLUSIVE! IT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE WELL-
BEING OF THE HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO EXPERIENCE NATURE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. THE

INTERACTION PROVIDES PEACE AND ENCOURAGES REFLECTION WHY CAN’T AN
CLEMENT OF THE NATURAL WORLD BE PRESENT IN ALL BUILDINGS? EVEN AN ADDITION

OF AN INNER GARDEN IN AN URBAN HOUSE, WHERE, SEEMINGLY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
DRAW ON NATURE, WOULD PROVIDE A PLACE OF CONTEMPLATION AND CALM AMIDST
THE HECTIC LIFE OUTSIDE EVEN IN MORE RURAL AREAS, WHERE IT IS INFINITELY MORE
POSSIBLE TO DRAW ON NATURE, ARCHITECTURE TODAY CHOOSES THE " EASY" OPTION,
AND OUR LANDSCAPE REFLECTS IDENTICAL BUILDING CHOICES, REGARDLESS OF
LOCATION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPORT IS TO INTRODUCE AND FIND LOGIC BY THE READER IN THE
IDEOLOGY OF BIOMIMICRY THAT REFERS TO SUSTAINABILITY BY LOOKING TOWARDS
NATURE FOR SOLUTIONS. IN THIS, THE BASICS OF BIOMIMICRY ARE INTRODUCED TO THE
READER AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF BIOMIMICRY.
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THE DISSERTATION RESEARCHES THE POSSIBILITY OF LINKING AND APPLYING OF
BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF EMERGING
SCIENCES IN DEVELOPING A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE DESIGN SOLUTION
FOR A TRULY APPEALING ARCHITECTURE THAT IS SYMPATHETIC WITH ITS
SURROUNDINGS, AND WORKS TO REALIZE THAT WHICH THE SITE DEMAND. TO DRAW
NATURE INTO THE BODY, THROUGH LIGHT, SOUND AND LANDSCAPE, WILL ULTIMATELY
ACCOMPLISH AN ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL SPEAK TO THE SPIRIT OF BOTH THE HUMAN
SOUL AND NATURE.
FOR THIS, WE REVIEW NATURE TO EMULATE ITS CREATIVITY IN OUR TECHNOLOGIES FOR
EFFECTIVE. EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY INNOVATION. THE IMPACT OF OUR
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES ON ECOLOGY IS TREMENDOUS AND A BETTER SOLUTION
CAN BE EVOLVED FROM NATURE ITSELF NATURE IS THE ONLY ENTITY CAPABLE OF
CONTROLLING ITS OWN SUSTAINABILITY HENCE, HERE WE DISCUSS THE BELIEF OF
BIOMIMICRY BEING A POWERFUL FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN, USING NATURE AS
MEASURE, MODEL AND MENTOR
1.2 AIM:
TO UNDERSTAND THE EMERGING TREND OF USING BIOMIMICRY AND STUDY VARIOUS
WORKS AND THEORIES UNDER TILTS EVOLUTION AS A RESPONSE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM
APPLYING BIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF BOTH
EMERGING SCIENCES IN DEVELOPING A MORE PRACTICAL AND REGENERATIVE
ARCHITECTURE. AND FINALLY, RELATING THE APPLICATIONS OF BIOMIMICRY TO STUDY
ITS SCOPE IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ARCHITECTURE.
1.3 OBJECTIVE:
 TO REVIEW BIO-MIMICRY FROM HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST
DOCUMENTED BIO-MIMETIC DESIGN.
 EXPLORE THE RELEVANCE OF BIOMIMICRY AS NATURE INSPIRED INNOVATION.

 HOW CAN TERMS LIKE GREEN, SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY CONSCIOUSNESS BE
ASSOCIATED WITH BIO- MIMETIC DESIGN?
 ANALYZE AND EVALUATE CASE STUDIES REPRESENTING SUCH A TECHNOLOGY.

 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE NEED OF BIOMIMETIC DESIGN, BY ESTABLISHING A
THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR CASE-STUDIES.
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1.4 SCOPE:
THE SCOPE OF THIS RESEARCH IS THE STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF BIO MIMICRY AS A
SIGNIFICANT TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION,
FOCUSING ON THE POSSIBILITY OF APPLYING SELECTED BIOMIMETIC PRINCIPLES FOR
FUTURE SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS OF BUILDINGS SOLVING PURPOSES LIKE
 CREATING LARGE SPAN CLEAR UNOBSTRUCTED AREAS

 PROPER LIGHTING
 VENTILATION AND ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY
1.5METHODOLOGY:
6
1.6 LIMITATION:
THE STUDY IS BASED ON SECONDARY SOURCES. THUS MOST OF THE EXAMPLES
DISCUSSED ARE SECONDARY SITES, HENCE CANNOT BE VISITED. BUT THE INFORMATION
GIVEN IS SURE TO BE COMPLETE W.R.T THE CONCERNED TOPIC AND ITS AUTHENTICITY IS
ASSURED THE STUDY IS ONLY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING AND RELATING THE
PREMISE OF BIO-MIMETIC ARCHITECTURE, WHICH IS NOT A DETAILED ONE AND FOCUSES
ON ONLY THE KEY BIOMIMETIC ASPECTS OF THE BUILDING
1.7 CONCLUSION:
TO PROVE THAT THE CONSCIOUS EMULATION OF LIFE'S GENIUS IS A SURVIVAL STRATEGY
FOR THE HUMAN RACE, A PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THE MORE OUR WORLD
FUNCTIONS LIKE THE NATURAL WORLD, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO ENDURE ON THIS
HOME THAT IS OURS, BUT NOT OURS ALONE
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CHAPTER 2 - INTRODUCTION
 BACKGROUND
 DEFINITION
 CONCEPT
 HISTORICAL ORIGIN
8
2.1 BACKGROUND:
NATURE HAS A LOT TO TEACH US, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ARCHITECTURE, SO
WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS OUR BEST TEACHER IS OFTEN THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT. THE NATURAL WORLD IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF SOMETHING

THAT IS ALWAYS CHANGING OUR ENVIRONMENT'S EVER SHIFTING NATURE HAS
ALLOWED BOTH PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE TO EVOLVE AND ADAPT TO BE ABLE TO
SURVIVE. THE LIVING THINGS ON THIS PLANET HAVE GONE THROUGH 3.8 BILLION YEARS
OF FUNCTIONING AROUND US TODAY. SO IN OUR QUEST TO CREATE A MORE RESEARCH

AND DEVELOPMENT, REFINING THEM INTO THE PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE AND ADAPTED
SOLUTIONS WE SEE THE SAME CONCEPTS TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY
EFFICIENT BUILDINGS.
LOOKING BACK INTO THE PAST IT CAN BE OBSERVED THAT DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE MANKIND HAS GATHERED, NATURE STILL HOLDS GREAT
MYSTERIES THAT WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO UNRAVEL. THIS COMPLEXITY HAS
CONTINUALLY DAUNTED MAN. IN FRUSTRATION, WE TRY TO CONTROL NATURE BY
ENFORCING ORDER. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM THE EARTH,

EVEN THOUGH OUR SURVIVAL IS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON IT. WE ARE NOW TRYING
TO REGAIN OUR CLOSE CONNECTION TO NATURE.
WITH THIS ONSET OF THE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT ON

THE EMPHASIS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. A RETURN TO EMBRACING
NATURE AS AN ARCHITECTURAL DRIVER HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN ORDER TO BRING BACK
A COHERENT UNDERSTANDING AND A SPIRITUAL COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN BOTH MAN
AND HIS SURROUNDINGS THAT CANNOT BE REALIZED WITH EACH AS OPPOSING
ELEMENTS.
THE ARCHITECTS HAVE FINALLY REALIZED THAT THE SOLUTION CAN BE ESTABLISHED
BY EMULATING NATURE'S TIME-TESTED PATTERNS AND STRATEGIES, E.G. A SOLAR CELL
INSPIRED BY A LEAF THE CORE IDEA IS THAT NATURE, IMAGINATIVE BY NECESSITY, HAS
ALREADY SOLVED MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH ENERGY, FOOD
PRODUCTION, CLIMATE CONTROL, NON-TOXIC CHEMISTRY, TRANSPORTATION,
PACKAGING. AND A WHOLE LOT MORE HENCE, TAKING INSPIRATION FROM THESE
SOLUTIONS WE SEE AROUND US EVERY DAY WE HAVE NOW TURNED TO A NEW STRATUM
OF DESIGNING CALLED BIOMIMICRY
9
2.2 BIOMIMICRY - DEFINITION:

THE WORD BIOMIMICRY ORIGINATES FROM THE
GREEK WORD BIOS, MEANING LIFE, AND MIMESIS,
MEANING TO IMITATE.
BIOMIMETICS IS A NEW DISCIPLINE THAT STUDIES
NATURE'S BEST IDEAS AND THEN IMITATES THESE
DESIGNS AND PROCESSES TO SOLVE HUMAN
PROBLEMS. IT IS A WAY TO OBSERVE NATURE IN
ACTION AND USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO INSPIRE

FIGURE 1 - JANINE BENYUS
NEW IDEAS. IT IS A DESIGN INSPIRED BY NATURE NOT BLIND IMITATION BUT INSPIRATION
FOR TRANSFORMING THE PRINCIPLES OF NATURE INTO SUCCESSFUL DESIGN SOLUTION.
JANINE BENYUS AUTHOR OF THE BOOK BIOMIMICRY INNOVATION INSPIRED BY
NATURE" SOLIDIFIED THE SCIENCE OF BIOMIMICRY EXPLAINING IN HER BOOK HOW
MIMICKING DESIGNS AND STRATEGIES FOUND IN NATURE COULD CHANGE THE WAY
HUMAN THINK IN EVERY FIELD OF LIFE INCLUDING ARCHITECTURE
SHE EXPLAINS THE PROCESS OF BIOMIMETICS AS RELYING ON THE FACT THAT LIVING
ORGANISMS AND ENGINEERS HAVE A SIMILAR GOAL: TO CREATE A STRUCTURE IN THE
CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE-EITHER IN TERMS OF ENERGY OR MONEY BIOMIMICRY CAN
BE APPLIED TO BUILDINGS IN ORDER TO:
A) MAKE MATERIALS STRONGER, SELF-ASSEMBLING, AND SELF-HEALING.
B) USE NATURAL PROCESSES AND FORCES FOR BASIC BUILDING FUNCTIONS
C) ALLOW THEM TO PRODUCE RESOURCES BY INTEGRATING NATURAL SYSTEMS.
2.3 CONCEPT:
AS ARGUED BEFORE, THE CONCEPT OF BIOMIMICRY IN ITSELF IS NOTHING NEW. HUMAN
STRUCTURES HAVE BORROWED FROM NATURE THROUGHOUT HISTORY. OUR FIRST
SHELTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE LITTLE MORE THAN UPTURNED BIRD'S NESTS: FORMED
OF BRANCHES AND INSULATED AGAINST THE ELEMENTS BY WHATEVER MATERIALS
WERE READILY AVAILABLE. IN FACT, ONE CAN SAY THAT BIOMIMICRY IS NOT A NEW
MOVEMENT, BUT A RETURN TO OUR EARLIEST INSPIRATIONS. NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
HOWEVER, HAVE ALLOWED US TO INVESTIGATE AND REPLICATE SYSTEMS THAT OUR
ANCESTORS WERE UNABLE TO EXPLOIT ON GRAND SCALE.
10
IN BIOMIMICRY WE LOOK BACK TO THE FUTURE AND INTO

NATURE'S DEVELOPMENT/EVOLUTION AND USES
SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU TO
IMPROVE OUR LIFE'S AND CREATE NEW TECHNOLOGY
FOR MANKIND. THIS BASIC IDEA TO COMBINE
BIOLOGY AND ENGINEERING IS TO HELP HUMANITY
TREAT NATURE BETTER AND IN MORE HARMONY, SO

ANYONE FROM A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL TO THE LARGEST
ENTERPRISE, CAN CREATE BETTER PRODUCTS, BECOME GREENER AND WORK IN
HARMONY WITH NATURE.
BIOMIMICRY SOLUTIONS ARE SUSTAINABLE, PERFORM WELL, SAVE ENERGY AND CUT
MATERIAL COSTS REDEFINING AND ELIMINATING WASTE
2.4 HISTORICAL ORIGN:

ARCHITECTS AND MASTER-BUILDERS HAVE
BEEN USING NATURE AS A SOURCE OF
INSPIRATION LONG BEFORE THE TERMS BIO
INSPIRATION OR BIOMIMETICS WERE
INTRODUCED. BIOMIMICRY -- APPLYING
NATURE'S SOLUTIONS TO HUMAN
PROBLEMS -- CAN BE TRACED BACK TO
EARLY HUMANS. THEY OBSERVED
ANIMALS AND MIMICKED THEIR HUNTING,
SHELTER AND SURVIVAL BEHAVIORS
WHILE THERE IS NO PROOF, IT IS QUITE
LIKELY THAT THE FORMS OF EGGS INSPIRED
THE FIRST HUMAN-MADE DOMES, OR THAT
THE TREES INSPIRED THE INVENTION OF
COLUMNS AND TALL SKYSCRAPERS THAT
ARE SO COMMON TODAY. IN THIS SENSE FIGURE 2 EGYPTION ARCHITECTURE
BIOMIMICRY IS FAR FROM BEING A RECENT IDEA. IMHOTEP, AN EGYPTIAN POLYMATH

AND THE FIRST RECORDED ARCHITECT FROM AROUND 2400 B.C.E. 'WAS THE FIRST TO
11
TRANSLATE VERNACULAR MATERIALS INTO STONE-FACED ASHLAR AND THE PYRAMID
SHAPE AND TO ABSTRACT BUNDLED REEDS INTO COLUMNS.
THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CULTURE IS ABUNDANT IN ARTIFACTS THAT WERE NATURE
INSPIRED MOST REMAINING ARTIFACTS WERE CARVED IN STONE WHICH ALLOWED THEM
TO SURVIVE THROUGHOUT TIME UNTIL REDISCOVERED BY MODEM ARCHAEOLOGISTS.
ONE OFTEN FINDS MOTIFS, ON COLUMNS, FOR EXAMPLE, DERIVING FROM NATURAL
MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OVER FROM ORIGINAL MATERIAL INTO STONE
ARCHITECTURAL FORMS COLUMNS WERE THE MOST COMMON IMITATORS OF NATURE,

OFTEN TAKING INSPIRATION FROM PALMS, LOTUS AND PAPYRUS PLANTS.
THE HIEROGLYPHICS (EGYPTIAN ALPHABET) ALSO IMITATED NATURAL SHAPES OF
NATURE, LIKE A BIRD'S FEATHER OR WHOLE ANIMAL'S SILHOUETTE, WHICH CONVEYED
SYMBOLIC MEANINGS.
THE EGYPTIANS ASSOCIATED ANIMALS AND PLANTS WITH THEIR FUNCTIONS AND
CHARACTER AND THEREFORE OFTEN IMITATED THEM TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION
ACROSS TIME. ALMOST ALWAYS THEIR SHAPES ECHOED VEGETABLE FORMS SHELLS,
SWELLING AT THE BASE TO RESEMBLE A BUNCH OF LOTUS STALKS, STOOD UPON
CIRCULAR STONE BASES, THEIR BUD SHAPED CAPITALS CREATING A SILHOUETTE VERY
COMMON AT THE TIME ANOTHER WAS PRODUCED BY A SIMPLE TAPERED SHAFT,
CROWNED BY THE INVERTED-BELL FORM OF AN OPEN PAPYRUS FLOWER IN THE
HYPOSTYLE HALL AT KARNAK, THE HUGE CENTRAL COLUMNS TOOK THIS LATTER
FORM, WHILE THE CAPITALS OF THE LOWER ORDER ON EITHER SIDE IMITATED THE SHAPE
OF A FLOWER
FIGURE 3 TAKING INSPIRATION FROM TREES
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THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE CAN BE SEEN ALL THROUGH HISTORY - THE
EGYPTIAN, MAYAN, POLYNESIAN, INCAN AND MANY OTHER ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
BUILT MONUMENTS OF DEVOTION TO A HIGHER ORDER AND ALL THESE CULTURES HAD
A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH LIFE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.
THIS MEANT THAT THE INSPIRATION HAD ITS SOURCE FAR BEYOND THE IDEA OF
IMITATING PLANTS AND ANIMALS ALONE. THE IMITATION WAS NOT LIMITED TO A SINGLE
EXAMPLE BUT CONVEYED UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF NATURE THAT WERE SHARED
ACROSS ALL LIFE. THE CREATION OF SACRED BUILDINGS ECHOES THE CREATION OF THE
UNIVERSE, AND BOTH SEEK TO FOLLOW SIMILAR MATHEMATICAL LAWS. THEREFORE,

THE GOLDEN SECTION (PHI) IS FOUND TO GOVERN THE GROWTH OF FIGURE 4 LE PLANTS
AND ANIMALS, AND IS ALSO THE PRIMARY PROPORTION FOUND IN SACRED BUILDINGS
AND MONUMENTS ACROSS ANTIQUITY
IN THE 15TH CENTURY, LEONARDO

DAVINCI TOOK THIS THIS TYPE OF
MIMICRY FURTHER WHEN HE WAS
INFLUENCED BY BIRDS AND
CREATED DRAWINGS THAT
DEPICTED FLYING MACHINES.
EVEN THE WRIGHT BROTHERS'

SPENT TIME OBSERVING BIRDS IN
FLIGHT AND APPLIED SOME OF
THOSE PRINCIPLES TO THEIR
AIRPLANE PROTOTYPE
IN THE 15TH CENTURY, LEONARDO

DAVINCI TOOK THIS THIS TYPE OF
MIMICRY FURTHER WHEN HE WAS
INFLUENCED BY BIRDS AND
CREATED DRAWINGS THAT
DEPICTED FLYING MACHINES.
EVEN THE WRIGHT BROTHERS'

SPENT TIME OBSERVING BIRDS IN
FLIGHT AND APPLIED SOME OF
THOSE PRINCIPLES TO THEIR
AIRPLANE PROTOTYPE
FIGURE 4 LEONARDO DA VINCI’S MODEL AND THE
MODERN AEROPLANE
13
CHAPTER 3 - INFLUENCE OF BIOMIMICRY ON

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
 BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGY
 PRINCIPALS OF BIOMIMICRY
 DESIGN APPROACHES
 LEVELS OF BIOMIMICRY
14
3.1 BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGY:

IF WE WANT TO CONSCIOUSLY EMULATE NATURE’S GENIUS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT
NATURES DIFFERENTLY. IN BIOMIMICRY, WE LOOK AT NATURE AS MODEL, MEASURE
AND MENTOR
NATURE AS MODEL
BIOMIMICRY IS A NEW SCIENCE
THAT STUDIES NATURE'S MODELS
AND THEN EMULATES THESE
FORMS, PROCESS SYSTEMS, AND
STRATEGIES TO SOLVE HUMAN
PROBLEMS - SUSTAINABLY, THE
BIOMIMICRY GUILD AND ITS
COLLABORATORS HAVE
DEVELOPED A PRACTICAL DESIGN
TOOL, CALLED THE BIOMIMICRY
DESIGN SPIRAL, FOR USING
NATURE AS MODEL.
NATURE AS MEASURE:
EVALUATING BIOMIMICRY USES AN ECOLOGICAL STANDARD TO JUDGE THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR INNOVATIONS. AFTER 3.8 BILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION,

NATURE HAS LEARNED WHAT WORKS AND WHAT LASTS NATURE AS MEASURE IS
CAPTURED IN LIFE'S PRINCIPLES AND IS EMBEDDED IN THE EVALUATE STEP OF THE

BIOMIMICRY DESIGN SPIRAL
NATURE AS MENTOR:
BIOMIMICRY IS A NEW WAY OF VIEWING AND VALUING NATURE. IT INTRODUCES AN
ERA BASED NOT ON WHAT WE CAN EXTRACT FROM THE NATURAL WORLD, BUT WHAT
WE CAN LEARN FROM IT.
3.2 PRINCIPLES OF BIO-MIMICRY:

BIOMIMICRY: INNOVATION INSPIRED BY NATURE BY JANINE BENYUS SETS OUT THAT
THERE ARE NINE BASIC LAWS UNDERPINNING THE CONCEPT OF BIOMIMICRY. THE
BIOMIMICRY PRINCIPLES FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON NATURE'S ATTRIBUTES THEREBY
15
IMPLYING THAT HUMANS HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE BILLIONS OF YEARS OF
THE NATURAL WORLD'S EVOLUTIONARY EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE
 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.
3.3 DESIGN APPROACHES:

APPROACHES TO BIOMIMICRY AS A DESIGN PROCESS TYPICALLY FALL INTO TWO
CATEGORIES: DEFINING A HUMAN NEED DESIGN PROBLEM AND LOOKING TO THE
WAYS OTHER ORGANISMS OR ECOSYSTEMS SOLVE THIS, TERMED HERE DESIGN
LOOKING TO BIOLOGY, OR IDENTIFYING A PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC, BEHAVIOR
OR FUNCTION IN AN ORGANISM OR ECOSYSTEM AND TRANSLATING THAT INTO
HUMAN DESIGNS, REFERRED TO AS BIOLOGY INFLUENCING DESIGN
16
3.3.1 PROBLEM BASED APPROACH:

THE APPROACH WHERE DESIGNERS LOOK TO THE LIVING WORLD FOR SOLUTIONS
REQUIRES DESIGNERS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND BIOLOGISTS TO THEN MATCH
THESE TO ORGANISMS THAT HAVE SOLVED SIMILAR ISSUES. THIS APPROACH IS
EFFECTIVELY LED BY DESIGNERS IDENTIFYING INITIAL GOALS FOR DESIGN.
CARL HASTRICH SUGGESTED THEY REPRESENT THE PROCESS IN A SPIRAL THAT
WOULD BE VISUALLY UNDERSTANDABLE TO DESIGNERS
RESEARCHERS HAVE THIS DEFINED THIS APPROACH THROUGH 6 DEFINITE STEPS,

WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE DEFINED BY THE BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE:
 STEP 1: PROBLEM DEFINITION

 STEP 2: REFRAME THE PROBLEM
 STEP 3: BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION SEARCH
 STEP 4: DEFINE THE BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION
 STEP 5: PRINCIPLE EXTRACTION
 STEP 6: PRINCIPLE APPLICATION
(MICHAEL HELMS, SWAROOP S. VATTAM AND ASHOK K. GOEL, 2009)
3.3.2 SOLUTION BASED APPROACH:

WHEN BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE INFLUENCES HUMAN DESIGN, THE COLLABORATIVE
DESIGN PROCESS IS INITIALLY DEPENDENT ON PEOPLE HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF
RELEVANT BIOLOGICAL OR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH RATHER THAN ON DETERMINED
HUMAN DESIGN PROBLEMS
AN ADVANTAGE OF THIS APPROACH THEREFORE IS THAT BIOLOGY MAY INFLUENCE

HUMANS IN WAYS THAT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE A PREDETERMINED DESIGN PROBLEM.
RESULTING IN PREVIOUSLY UNTHOUGHT-OF TECHNOLOGIES OR SYSTEMS OR EVEN
APPROACHES TO DESIGN SOLUTIONS THE POTENTIAL FOR TRUE SHIFTS IN THE WAY
HUMANS DESIGN AND WHAT IS FOCUSED ON AS A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM, EXISTS
WITH SUCH AN APPROACH TO BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
17
RESEARCHERS HAVE THIS DEFINE THIS APPROACH TO SIMILARLY THROUGH 7

DEFINITE STEPS THAT ARE: -
 STEP 1: BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION IDENTIFICATION • •

o HERE, DESIGNERS START WITH A PARTICULAR BIOLOGICAL
SOLUTION IN MIND.
 STEP 2: DEFINE THE BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION

 STEP 3: PRINCIPLE EXTRACTION
 STEP 4: REFRAME THE SOLUTION
o IN THIS CASE, REFRAMING FORCES DESIGNERS THINK IN TERMS OF
HOW HUMANS MIGHT VIEW THE USEFULNESS OF THE BIOLOGICAL
FUNCTION BEING ACHIEVED
 STEP 5 PROBLEM SEARCH

o WHEREAS SEARCH IN THE BIOLOGICAL DOMAIN INCLUDES SEARCH
THROUGH SOME FINITE SPACE OF DOCUMENTED BIOLOGICAL
SOLUTIONS, PROBLEM SEARCH MAY INCLUDE DEFINING ENTIRELY
NEW PROBLEMS THIS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE SOLUTION
SEARCH STEP IN THE PROBLEM-DRIVEN PROCESS
 STEP 6: PROBLEM DEFINITION

 STEP 7: PRINCIPLE APPLICATION
3.4 LEVELS OF BIO MIMICRY:

THREE LEVELS OF BIO MIMICRY
BIO MIMICRY CAN WORK ON THREE LEVELS:
THE ORGANISM, ITS BEHAVIORS, AND THE ECOSYSTEM.
BUILDINGS ON THE ORGANISM LEVEL MIMIC A SPECIFIC ORGANISM.
WORKING ON THIS LEVEL WITHOUT MIMICKING HOW THE ORGANISM PARTICIPATES
IN A LARGER CONTEXT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A BUILDING THAT
INTEGRATES WELL WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT ON A BEHAVIOR LEVEL, BUILDINGS
MIMIC HOW AN ORGANISM BEHAVES OR RELATES TO ITS LARGER CONTEXT.
ON THE LEVEL OF THE ECOSYSTEM, A BUILDING MIMICS THE NATURAL PROCESS
AND CYCLE OF THE GREATER ENVIRONMENT.
18
CHAPTER 4 - CASE STUDIES: APPLICATION OF

BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
 INTRODUCTION
 LITRATURE STUDY 1
 LITRATURE STUDY 2
 CASE STUDY 1
 CASE STUDY 2
19
4.1 INTRODUCTION:
IN SUMMARIZING THE CONCEPTS OUTLINED IN THIS STUDY, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE

ARE MANY PARALLELS TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN NATURE AND ARCHITECTURE, SOME OF
WHICH HAVE BEEN STUDIED FOR CENTURIES AND OTHERS WHICH ONLY NOW BECOMING
RELEVANT AS WE SEEK TO REMEDY THE STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUILT
AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. WHILST CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO
SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS UPON REDUCING ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSUMPTION
BIOMIMICRY PROVIDES A
AS ARCHITECTS, WE CAN BENEFIT FROM BIOMIMICRY TO MAKE BUILDINGS BETTER BY

PUSHING FOR MORE NATURAL, INTEGRATED, EFFICIENT AND HEALTHY SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO
NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROLE AESTHETICS PLAYS IN NATURE - WITH THE WAY
FUNCTION AND FORM SO SYNERGISTICALLY MERGE . PERHAPS THIS IS A WAY FOR BUILDINGS
TO HARMONIZE WITH NATURE IN RENEWED WAYS MAKING BUILT ENVIRONMENTS MORE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND HEALTHY FOR OCCUPANTS . NATURE CAN TEACH US ABOUT
SYSTEMS, MATERIALS, PROCESSES, STRUCTURES AND AESTHETICS (JUST TO NAME A FEW). BY
DELVING MORE DEEPLY INTO HOW NATURE SOLVES PROBLEMS THAT WE EXPERIENCE TODAY ,
WE CAN EXTRACT TIMELY SOLUTIONS AND FIND NEW DIRECTIONS FOR OUR BUILT
ENVIRONMENTS IN THIS CHAPTER I HAVE BROADLY CATEGORIZED THESE EXPERIMENTS INTO
THREE MAJOR SUBHEADS AS PER THEIR CASE EXAMPLES DESCRIBED VIZ. STRUCTURE,
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND BUILDING SYSTEMS. ILLUSTRATED HENCEFORTH
STRUCTURE
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES HAVE ADVANCED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS, OFFERING AN

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT, ANALYZE, CREATE FABRICATE, AND SIMULATE
ARCHITECTURAL FORMS INSPIRED BY NATURE . WHETHER ITS THE SHELLS COMPRISING THE
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AND THE REGULAR GRIDS AND ORNAMENT FOUND IN GOTHIC
CATHEDRALS STRUCTURAL INSPIRATION FROM NATURAL FORMS FROM ROCKS TO SHELLS TO
SPONGES AND SEA URCHINS - REPRESENT SOME OF THE MOST ELEGANT AND SOPHISTICATED
FORMS, DEMONSTRATING COMPLICATED DESIGN AND ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES
20
4.2 LITRATURE STUDY 1:

BEIJING OLYMPIC STADIUM AS BIOMIMICRY OF A BIRD’S NEST
DRAWING FROM THE STRUCTURAL STRENGTH AND FACT FILE

BEAUTY OF NATURAL OBJECTS IS A GROWING TREND
LOCATION: BEIJING, CHINA
AS ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS TODAY HAVE
ARCHITECTS: HERZOG & DE
BECOME INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN THE
MEURON ARCHITEKEN AG
EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY AND MATERIALS. BEIJING
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION:
NATIONAL STADIUM, DESIGNED BY SWISS 2002-2008
ARCHITECTS HERZOG & DE MEURON, IS AN BUILDING TYPE: NATIONAL
EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE USE OF THESE SPORTS VENUE
BIOMETRIC PRINCIPLES IN MODERN ARCHITECTURE. COST OF CONSTRUCTION: 3.5

BILLION YUAN (~423 MILLION
AS IMPLIED BY ITS NICKNAME - A 'BIRD'S NEST', THE USD)
STADIUM RISES OUT OF THE LANDSCAPE IN THE SHAPE
TOTAL AREA: 250,000 SQ.M
OF A GIANT UPTURNED BIRD'S NEST. THE SEEMINGLY
TOTAL WEIGHT: 45,000 TONES
RANDOM PATTERN OF THE STEEL STRUCTURAL
MATERIAL USED: CONCRETE,
MEMBERS AS THE TWIGS IS ACTUALLY GOVERNED BY STEEL AND ETHYL
ADVANCED GEOMETRICAL RULES TO ENSURE A TETROFLUOROETHYLENE (ETFE)
PANEL ROOFING
COMPACT AND OPTIMUM DESIGN, THE SEATING BOWL
WAS ESTABLISHED FIRST, WITH THE OUTER FAÇADE WRAPPING AROUND IT. THE DESIGN
ENSURES THAT ALL SPECTATORS ARE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ACTION AND HAVE CLEAR
SIGHT LINES.
THE CHINESE NATIONAL STADIUM WAS THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES' MOST STRIKING
STRUCTURE, RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE WORLD THE BUILDING'S DYNAMIC FORM AND VAST
SCALE CREATE A NEW ICON FOR CHINA AND THE CITY OF BEIJING
RELATED CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES:

1. TO PROVIDE THERMAL COMFORT IN THE STADIUM.
THE EXTERIOR SHELL INFLATED CUSHIONS AS A FILLER JUST AS BIRDS STUFF THE SPACES
BETWEEN THE WOVEN TWIGS OF THEIR NESTS WITH A SOFT FILLER, THE SPACES IN THE
STRUCTURE OF THE STADIUM ARE FILLED WITH INFLATED ETFE CUSHIONS. ON THE ROOF,
THE CUSHIONS WILL BE MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE TO MAKE THE ROOF
21
COMPLETELY WEATHERPROOF. WHILST THE RAIN IS COLLECTED FOR RAINWATER

RECUPERATION THE SUNLIGHT FILTERS THROUGH THE TRANSLUCENT ROOF PROVIDING THE
LAWN WITH ESSENTIAL UV-RADIATION ON THE FACADE, THE INFLATED CUSHIONS WILL BE
MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE WHERE NECESSARY, E.G TO PROVIDE WIND
PROTECTION. SINCE ALL OF THE FACILITIES - RESTAURANTS, SUITES, SHOPS AND RESTROOMS
- ARE ALL SELF-CONTAINED UNITS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO LARGELY WITHOUT A SOLID,

ENCLOSED FACADE THIS ALLOWS NATURAL VENTILATION OF THE STADIUM WHICH IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE STADIUM'S SUSTAINABLE DESIGN.
2. PROVIDE BEST POSSIBLE SPECTATOR VIEW FROM ALL DIRECTIONS SIGHT LINES AND
FIGURE 5 BEIJING OLYMPIC STADIUM ALGORITHM

SPECTATOR VIEWING: THE ALMOST CIRCULAR FOOTPRINT OPTIMIZES THE VIEWING AND
ATMOSPHERE BY BRINGING ALL THE SPECTATORS AS CLOSE TO THE ACTION AS POSSIBLE. THE
STANDS ARE DESIGNED WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION TO EVOKE THE IMAGE OF A BOWL. THIS
EVENLY CONSTRUCTED SHAPE SERVES TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE SPECTATORS AND THE
EVENTS ON THE FIELD. THE HUMAN CROWD FORMS THE ARCHITECTURE. THE FACILITY
PROVIDES GOOD COMFORT, EXCELLENT VIEWS AND A SUPERB ATMOSPHERE. IT WILL
GENERATE CROWD EXCITEMENT AND DRIVE ATHLETES TO OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
22
3. COMPLEX STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES. SINCE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE IS CONSTRUCTED OF

STEEL AND CONCRETE WITH A COMBINED WEIGHT OF AROUND 50,000 TONNES. HENCE,
COMPUTER SIMULATION, SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL AND STRUCTURE MONITORING
TECHNIQUES WERE ALL USED TO ENSURE ACCURATE OPERATION, EVEN UNLOADING AND
TIMELY OBSERVATION. ALL THESE PROVIDED FOR A STRUCTURE THAT MUTUALLY

SUPPORTED EACH OTHER AND CONVERGED INTO A GRID-LIKE FORMATION - ALMOST LIKE A
BIRD'S NEST WITH ITS INTERWOVEN TWIGS. TO FORM A STRUCTURE LARGELY DOMINATED BY
LARGE SPANS AND DIGITAL SCREENS
23
4.3 LITRATURE STUDY 2:

EASTGATE CENTRE BUILDING
FACT FILE
LOCATION: HARARE, ZIMBABWE

LEARNING FROM TERMITES TO COOL AND
ARCHITECTS: MICK PEARCE
HEAT NATURALLY HARARE, ZIMBABWE THE
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: 1991-96
EASTGATE CENTRE IS A SHOPPING CENTRE
BUILDING TYPE: COMMERCIAL,
AND OFFICE BLOCK IN DOWNTOWN HARARE OFFICE BUILDING
THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO BE VENTILATED
AND COOLED ENTIRELY BY NATURAL MEANS.
MATERIAL USED: CONCRETE
THE BUILDING STORES HEAT IN THE DAY AND
IN THE EVENING, THE WARM INTERNAL AIR IS VENTED THROUGH CHIMNEYS, ASSISTED
BY FANS BUT ALSO RISING NATURALLY BECAUSE IT IS LESS DENSE AND DRAWING IN
DENSER COOL AIR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUILDING. AT NIGHT, THE PROCESS
CONTINUES, WITH COLD AIR FLOWING THROUGH CAVITIES IN THE FLOOR SLABS UNTIL
THE BUILDING'S FABRIC HAS REACHED THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE TO START THE NEXT
DAY. THIS MAKES A MECHANICAL OR PASSIVE COOLING SYSTEM A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
TO ARTIFICIAL AIR-CONDITIONING. THE COMPLEX ALSO CONSISTS OF TWO BUILDINGS
SIDE BY SIDE THAT ARE SEPARATED BY AN OPEN SPACE THAT IS COVERED BY GLASS AND
OPEN TO THE LOCAL BREEZES
THIS VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACHIEVED BY THE INCORPORATION OF BIOMIMICRY
PRINCIPLES 4 INTO THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS, USING DESIGN METHODS INSPIRED BY

INDIGENOUS ZIMBABWEAN MASONRY AND THE SELF-COOLING MOUNDS OF AFRICAN
TERMITES. TERMITES BUILD GIGANTIC MOUNDS INSIDE WHICH THEY FARM A FUNGUS
THAT IS THEIR PRIMARY FOOD SOURCE. THE FUNGUS MUST BE KEPT AT EXACTLY 35°C,
WHILE THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE RANGE FROM 1.5°C AT NIGHT TO 40°C DURING THE
DAY. THE TERMITES ACHIEVE THIS REMARKABLE FEAT BY CONSTANTLY OPENING AND
CLOSING A SERIES OF HEATING AND COOLING VENTS THROUGHOUT THE MOUND OVER
24
THE COURSE OF THE DAY. WITH A SYSTEM OF CAREFULLY ADJUSTED CONVECTION
CURRENTS, AIR IS SUCKED IN AT THE LOWER PART OF THE MOUND DOWN INTO
ENCLOSURES WITH MUDDY WALLS AND UP THROUGH A CHANNEL TO THE PEAK OF THE
TERMITE MOUND. THE EASTGATE CENTRE USES LESS THAN 10% OF THE ENERGY OF A
CONVENTIONAL BUILDING ITS SIZE. EASTGATE OWNERS HAVE SAVED $3.5 MILLION
ALONE BECAUSE OF AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT DID NOT HAVE TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. OUTSIDE OF BEING ECO EFFICIENT AND BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,
THESE SAVINGS ALSO TRICKLE DOWN TO THE TENANTS WHOSE RENTS ARE 20% LOWER
THAN THOSE OF OCCUPANTS IN THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS
RELATED ORGANISM: TERMITE

AN INSECT THAT BUILDS MOUNDS THAT NOT ONLY REGULATE TEMPERATURE AND
HUMIDITY OF THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT PROTECT THE COLONY FROM FIRE.
FIGURE 6 EASTGATE CENTRE BUILDING EXTERIOR , INTERIOR AND SECTION
25
RELATED CHALLENGES:
DISTRIBUTE AIR
AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS MUST DELIVER APPROPRIATE QUANTITIES OF EXTERNAL
AND RECIRCULATED AIR POSSESSING DESIRED QUALITIES TO A STRUCTURE 'S INTERNAL
SPACES.
PROPEL AIR
FLOW AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS MUST PROPEL FLOW WITHIN A BUILDING USING
NATURAL AND FORCED MEANS OF VENTILATION
SEASONAL RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE

BUILDING DESIGNS AND MATERIALS THAT REGULATE INTERNAL TEMPERATURE IN
RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL CHANGES MINIMIZE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, POLLUTION, AND
NOISE, WHILE IMPROVING AIR QUALITY AND OCCUPANT COMFORT.
RELATED STRATEGIES:
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
MANY ANIMALS USE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER TO THERMOREGULATE
THROUGH EVAPORATION.
NATURAL VENTILATION
NATURAL VENTILATION IN SOME ANIMAL-BUILT STRUCTURES IS ACHIEVED BY DESIGN.
TRACHEAL COMPRESSION
TRACHEAL COMPRESSION IS A RESPIRATORY STRATEGY USED BY BEETLES, CRICKETS,
AND ANTS ANALOGOUS TO THE INFLATION AND DEFLATION OF VERTEBRATE LUNGS
26
4.4 CASE STUDY 1:

LOTUS (BAHAI) TEMPLE
THE TEMPLES OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH ARE WELL

FACT FILE
KNOWN FOR THEIR ARCHITECTURAL
LOCATION: KALKAJI, NEW DELHI
SPLENDOR, AND THE TEMPLE CONSTRUCTED
ARCHITECT: MR. FARIBORZ SAHBA
IN DELHI IS A CONTINUATION OF THIS RICH
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: 1976-68
TRADITION. BEFORE UNDERTAKING THE
BUILDING TYPE: TEMPLE
DESIGN OF THE TEMPLE, THE ARCHITECT, MR.
FARIBORZ SAHBA, HAD TRAVELLED
MATERIAL USED: CONCRETE
EXTENSIVELY IN INDIA TO STUDY THE
ARCHITECTURE OF THIS LAND AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE BEAUTIFUL
TEMPLES, AS WELL AS BY THE ART AND RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WHEREIN THE LOTUS
INVARIABLY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE. HE WAS INFLUENCED BY THIS EXPERIENCE,
AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING OUT THE CONCEPT OF PURITY, SIMPLICITY AND
FRESHNESS OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH, HE CONCEIVED THE TEMPLE IN DELHI IN THE FORM
OF A LOTUS. THE TEMPLE GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF A HALF-OPEN LOTUS FLOWER,
AFLOAT, SURROUNDED BY ITS LEAVES. EACH COMPONENT OF THE TEMPLE IS REPEATED
NINE TIMES.
THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, AS SEEN FROM THE LAYOUT, CONSISTS OF THE MAIN HOUSE OF
WORSHIP; THE ANCILLARY BLOCK WHICH HOUSES THE RECEPTION CENTRE, THE LIBRARY
AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING; AND THE RESTROOMS BLOCK. THE TEMPLE
PROPER COMPRISES A BASEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING
COMPONENTS, AND A LOTUS-SHAPED SUPERSTRUCTURE TO HOUSE THE ASSEMBLY AREA.
ALL AROUND THE LOTUS ARE WALKWAYS WITH BEAUTIFUL CURVED BALUSTRADES,
BRIDGES AND STAIRS, WHICH SURROUND THE NINE POOLS REPRESENTING THE FLOATING
27
LEAVES OF THE LOTUS. APART FROM SERVING AN OBVIOUS AESTHETIC FUNCTION, THE
POOLS ALSO HELP VENTILATE THE BUILDING.
THE LOTUS, AS SEEN FROM OUTSIDE, HAS THREE SETS OF LEAVES OR PETALS, ALL OF
WHICH ARE MADE OUT OF THIN CONCRETE SHELLS. THE OUTERMOST SET OF NINE
PETALS, CALLED THE 'ENTRANCE LEAVES', OPEN OUTWARDS AND FORM THE NINE
ENTRANCES ALL AROUND THE OUTER ANNULAR HALL. THE NEXT SET OF NINE PETALS,
CALLED THE 'OUTER LEAVES', POINT INWARDS. THE ENTRANCE AND OUTER LEAVES
TOGETHER COVER THE OUTER HALL. THE THIRD SET OF NINE PETALS, CALLED THE 'INNER
LEAVES', APPEAR TO BE PARTLY CLOSED. ONLY THE TIPS OPEN OUT, SOMEWHAT LIKE A
PARTLY OPENED BUD. THIS PORTION, WHICH RISES ABOVE THE REST, FORMS THE MAIN
STRUCTURE HOUSING THE CENTRAL HALL. NEAR THE TOP WHERE THE LEAVES SEPARATE
OUT, NINE RADIAL BEAMS PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LATERAL SUPPORT. SINCE THE
LOTUS IS OPEN AT THE TOP, A GLASS AND STEEL ROOF AT THE LEVEL OF THE RADIAL
BEAMS PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM RAIN AND FACILITATES THE ENTRY OF NATURAL
LIGHT INTO THE AUDITORIUM.
BELOW THE ENTRANCE LEAVES AND OUTER LEAVES, NINE MASSIVE ARCHES RISE IN A
RING. A ROW OF STEPS THROUGH EACH ARCH LEAD INTO THE MAIN HALL (SEE FIG. 1).
THE INNER LEAVES ENCLOSE THE INTERIOR DOME IN A CANOPY MADE OF CRISSCROSSING
RIBS AND SHELLS OF INTRICATE PATTERN. WHEN VIEWED FROM INSIDE, EACH LAYER OF
RIBS AND SHELLS DISAPPEARS AS IT RISES, BEHIND THE NEXT, LOWER LAYER (SEE
SECTION ON P. 29). SOME OF THE RIBS
CONVERGE RADIALLY AND MEET AT A
CENTRAL HUB. THE RADIAL BEAMS
EMANATING FROM THE INNER LEAVES
DESCRIBED EARLIER MEET AT THE CENTRE
OF THE BUILDING AND REST ON THIS HUB.
A NEOPRENE PAD IS PROVIDED BETWEEN
THE RADIAL BEAMS AND THE TOP OF THE
INTERIOR DOME TO ALLOW LATERAL
MOVEMENT CAUSED BY THE EFFECTS OF
TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND WIND. FIGURE 7 LOTUS TEMPLE PERSPECTIVE
28
GEOMETRY:
THE BEAUTIFUL CONCEPT OF THE LOTUS, AS CONCEIVED BY THE ARCHITECT, HAD TO BE
CONVERTED INTO DEFINABLE GEOMETRICAL SHAPES SUCH AS SPHERES, CYLINDERS,
TOROIDS AND CONES. THESE SHAPES WERE TRANSLATED INTO EQUATIONS, WHICH WERE
THEN USED AS A BASIS FOR STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND ENGINEERING DRAWINGS. THE
RESULTANT GEOMETRY WAS
SO COMPLEX THAT IT TOOK
THE DESIGNERS OVER TWO
AND A HALF YEARS TO
COMPLETE THE DETAILED
DRAWINGS OF THE TEMPLE.
AN ATTEMPT IS MADE
BELOW TO DESCRIBE THIS
COMPLEX GEOMETRY IN
SIMPLE TERMS
FIGURE 8 LOTUS TEMPLE STRUCTURE
ENTRANCE LEAVES AND OUTER LEAVES.

THE SHELL SURFACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIDGE OF THE ENTRANCE AND OUTER
LEAVES ARE FORMED OUT OF SPHERES OF DIFFERENT RADII, WITH THEIR CENTRES
LOCATED AT DIFFERENT POINTS INSIDE THE BUILDING. THERE IS ONE SET OF SPHERES
FOR THE ENTRANCE LEAVES, SOME OF WHICH DEFINE THE INNER SURFACES, AND OTHERS
WHICH DEFINE THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE SHELLS. THE DIAMETERS OF THE SPHERES
HAVE BEEN FIXED TO SATISFY THE STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATION OF VARYING SHELL
THICKNESS. SIMILARLY, FOR THE OUTER LEAVES, ANOTHER SET OF SPHERES DEFINES
THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES OF THE SHELLS. HOWEVER, FOR THE OUTER LEAVES,
THE SHELL IS UNIFORMLY 133 MM THICK TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, AND INCREASES TO
255 MM UP TO THE TIP, BEYOND THE GLAZING LINE.
THE ENTRANCE LEAF IS 18.2M WIDE AT THE ENTRANCE AND RISES 7.8M ABOVE THE
PODIUM LEVEL. THE OUTER LEAF IS 15.4M WIDE AND RISES UP TO 22.5M ABOVE THE
PODIUM
29
THE INNER LEAVES:

EACH CORRUGATION OF THE INNER LEAF, COMPRISING A CUSP (RIDGE) AND A RE-
ENTRANT (VALLEY), IS MADE UP OF TWO TOROIDAL SURFACES. A TOROID IS GENERATED
WHEN A CIRCLE OF A CERTAIN RADIUS, 'R', IS ROTATED AROUND THE CENTRE OF A CIRCLE
OF MUCH LARGER RADIUS, 'R'. A CYCLE TUBE IS A TYPICAL TOROID. THE SHADED
PORTION OF THE TOROID IS A PART OF THE INNER LEAF SHELL.
THE INNER LEAVES RISE TO AN ELEVATION OF 34.3M ABOVE THE INNER PODIUM. AT THE
LOWEST LEVEL EACH SHELL HAS A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 14M. IT IS UNIFORMLY 200MM
THICK.
THE ARCH:
ALL AROUND THE CENTRAL HALL ARE NINE SPLENDID ARCHES PLACED AT ANGULAR
INTERVALS OF 40 DEGREES. THE SHAPE OF THESE ARCHES IS FORMED BY A NUMBER OF

PLANE, CONICAL AND CYLINDRICAL SURFACES. THE INTERSECTION OF THESE SURFACES
PROVIDES INTERESTING CONTOURS AND GREATLY ENHANCES THE BEAUTY OF THE
ARCHES. THE NINE ARCHES BEAR ALMOST THE ENTIRE LOAD OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.
THE INTERIOR DOME:

THREE RIBS SPRING FROM THE CROWN OF EACH ARCH. WHILE THE CENTRAL ONE (THE
DOME RIB) RISES RADIALLY TOWARDS THE CENTRAL HUB, THE OTHER TWO (THE BASE
RIBS) MOVE AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL RIB AND INTERSECT WITH SIMILAR BASE RIBS OF
ADJACENT ARCHES, THUS FORMING AN INTRICATE PATTERN. OTHER RADIAL RIBS RISE
FROM EACH OF THESE INTERSECTIONS AND ALL MEET AT THE CENTRE OF THE DOME.
UP TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE RIBS IS COVERED BY TWO LAYERS
OF 6OMM-THICK SHELLS. THE INTRICATE PATTERN OF THE INTERIOR DOME IS
ILLUSTRATED IN SECTION.
FIGURE 9 LOTUS TEMPLE SECTION
30
4.5 CASE STUDY 2:

BIO WONDER
BIOWONDER IS THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FACT FILE

OF MAXIMIZING ENERGY QUOTIENT OF
BUSINESS. THE GOLD RATED BIOPHILLIC LOCATION: ANANDAPUR MAIN

ROAD, EASTERN METROPOLITAN
WONDER HARMONIZES NATURE WITH BYPASS, KOLKATA
ARCHITECTURE. IT IS A STATEMENT OF COST ARCHITECTS: SALIENT DESIGN
INNOVATION FOR THE BUSINESS THAT STUDIO
SYNCHRONIZES WITH NATURAL GENERATION YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: UNDER

CONSTRUCTION (STRUCTURE WORK
OF HIGHER EFFICIENCY LEVEL FOR THE WORK COMPLETED)
FORCE. BIOWONDER IS THE FIRST BIOPHILIC BUILDING TYPE: CORPORATE PARK

PROJECT IN INDIA. IN THE EVOLUTIONARY TOTAL AREA: 37,000 SQ.M
SCALE OF GREEN BUILDINGS, IT IS THE MOST MATERIAL USED: STEEL & GLASS
INTELLIGENT AND EVOLVED CATEGORY WITH
ACTUAL EFFECTIVE GREEN COVER OF 100 PER CENT. BIO WONDER – THE GREEN
CORPORATE PARK IN KOLKATA, INDIA, WHICH IS SPREAD OVER A PROJECT AREA OF 4
LAKH SQ. FT. THIS UPCOMING MIXED USED PROJECT IS THE FIRST EVER NON-IT AND
ENVIRONMENT POSITIVE CORPORATE PARK WHICH HAS WON THE BEST SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT AWARD – FUTURE AT THE CITYSCAPE GLOBAL AWARDS FOR EMERGING
MARKETS ORGANIZED BY CITYSCAPE GLOBAL IN DUBAI.

BIOWONDER INCREASES THE URBAN GREENERY AND HELPS REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF
A ‘HEAT ISLAND’. WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US. IT
HELPS IN SUSTAINING THE BIODIVERSITY AROUND. ITS FLOOR PLATE ORIENTATION
HELPS EVERY OFFICE TO ACHIEVE 80% DAYLIGHT, GREAT VIEWS IN 2 DIRECTIONS, WITH
GREEN TERRACES AND A GARDEN ATTACHED.
31
LET’S NOT FORGET WE SPEND MORE THAN 70% OF OUR WAKING TIME IN OUR OFFICES!
BIOWONDER IS A BETTER EXPRESSION OF TRUTH; THE TRUTH THAT CONNECTS US WITH
NATURE.
BIOWONDER”, WHERE ARTS AND SCIENCE ATTACHED… AN INTERNAL CORE OF SHEAR

WALLS AND SPECIAL MOMENT FRAMES PROVIDE A STIFF LATERAL RESISTING SYSTEM TO
ADEQUATELY RESIST EARTHQUAKES AND WIND FORCES.
THE DESIGN OFFERS AN UNINTERRUPTED VIEW WHILE MINIMISING CARBON
CONSUMPTION – ENABLED VIA 95% RCC STRUCTURE PLAN USING STEEL ONLY AT THE
BRACINGS.
DESIGNED WITH LATEST LED TECHNOLOGY, THE ILLUMINATION WILL RESULT IN
OPTIMAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION – UP TO 30% LESS LPD.
THE CHALLENGES:
BIOWONDER, DESIGNED BY SALIENT DESIGN STUDIO, HAS REDEFINED THE KOLKATA
SKYLINE ON ACCOUNT OF ITS UNIQUE STRUCTURAL STRUCTURE. THE CHALLENGE WAS TO
ENABLE SEISMIC STABILITY TO THE ENTIRE BOOK-STACK STRUCTURE, AND YET, MAKE IT
BIOPHILIC. THE TERRACES ARE PULLED OUT OF THE BUILDING TO THE EXTENT OF 8 METER IN
WIDTH AND 26 METER IN LENGTH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CANTILEVER STRUCTURE
IN INDIA.
THIS IS DONE ARTFULLY, STRATEGICALLY ENSURING THAT THE CENTER OF THE MASS IS
MAINTAINED ALONG THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING’S AXIS. THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE
BUILDING REQUIRED THE TERRACES TO HAVE UNINTERRUPTED VIEWS AND ALSO HAVING
TERRACE GARDENS. SO IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR THE CANTILEVER PORTION OF 8 METER

BY 26 METER AT DIFFERENT LEVELS TO BE EXECUTED BY USING STRUCTURAL STEEL.
FIGURE 10 BIOWONDER CONCEPTUAL SKETCH
32
Features Galore:
• THE GOLDEN RATIO IN MASSING AND PLANNING GEOMETRY TO MAXIMIZE SOLAR
PERFORMANCE.
• BIOWONDER COMPENSATES FOR 100 PER CENT GREEN COVER

• SOLAR INSOLATION (SOLAR HEAT GAIN) IS MINIMAL DUE TO OFFSETS AND TERRACE
FORESTRY
• REDUCED HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

• GREEN POCKETS CREATED TO FACILITATE CONDUCIVE MICROCLIMATE FOR OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES, CONSERVE AND PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY (OFFSET TERRACES MAKE SHORTER
BIRD PATHS TO REACH HEIGHTS)
• PASSIVE COOLING INDUCED BY TRAPPING THE PREVAILING WIND

• MASSING PROJECTIONS CREATES NATURAL COOLING TURBINES FORCES THE WIND TO
FORM VORTICES
• INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS MANAGED BY SPECIFIC PLANTATION ON ABOVE LEVELS

• TRAFFIC POLLUTION TILL 14.5 M MANAGED BY URBAN FORESTRY IN 3 LEVELS
• NUCLEATED CORE TO CONTAIN THE SUPER BUILT UP LOADING WITHIN 20 PER CENT
• SITE PLANNING EMPLOYS ANCIENT SCIENCE OF MAGNETIC ZONING OF VAASTU SHASTRA
• POLYMER SOLAR CELL INSTALLATIONS IN WEST AND EAST FACADE
FIGURE 11 BIOWONDER SECTION
33
CHAPTER 5 - CONCLUSION (SUMMARY)
 FINAL CONCLUSION
 BENEFITS OF BIOMIMICRY
 CRITICISM
 FUTURE SCOPE
34
5.1 FINAL CONCLUSION:
IN SUMMARIZING THE CONCEPTS OUTLINED IN THIS STUDY, IT IS APPARENT THAT

THERE ARE MANY PARALLELS TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN NATURE AND
ARCHITECTURE, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN STUDIED FOR CENTURIES AND
OTHERS WHICH ONLY NOW BECOMING RELEVANT AS WE SEEK TO REMEDY THE
STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUILT AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
WHILST CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS UPON
REDUCING ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSUMPTION BIOMIMICRY PROVIDES A
FORUM WHEREBY ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS HELPS PRODUCE A
MORE POSITIVE AND REGENERATIVE DESIGN BIOMIMICRY, RATHER THAN BEING

EMPLOYED AS SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF EMULATING NATURE IN A BUILT FORM
HOWEVER THIS TECHNIQUE SHOULD BE APPLIED IN A MORE HOLISTIC SENSE
WHERE DESIGNERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLEX INTERACTIONS WHICH TAKE
PLACE WITHIN THE NATURAL WORLD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY UNDERSTAND OUR
POSITION WITHIN IT. NOT ONLY IS NATURE A READILY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF
INSPIRATION GIVEN THAT IT IS PRESENT IN EVERY MOLECULE AROUND US , BUT
NATURAL FORMS HAVE ALSO EVOLVED WITHIN THE SAME CONFINES AS
HUMANITY, UTILIZING ONLY THE MATERIAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES AVAILABLE
ON PLANET EARTH AS THE HUMAN SPECIES CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WE MUST
EMBRACE OUR POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT BY WHILST ALSO
RESPECTING THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF OUR PREDECESSORS BY DOING SO, THE
PROSPECT OF GENERATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR SUCCESSORS WILL
BECOME BOTH AN ACHIEVABLE AND A REWARDING ASPIRATION
5.2 BENEFITS OF BIOMIMICRY
THROUGH THE ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE SELECTED CASE-STUDIES, IT CAN

BE CONCLUDED THAT THE SUGGESTED THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL
FRAMEWORKS ENABLE THE DESIGNER TO:
 DEVELOP AN ARCHITECTURE THAT IS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THE EXISTING

ENVIRONMENTAL, MATERIALIZATION, AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, AND
THEREFORE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO ITS LOCATION AND CONDITIONS
35
 PRODUCE A MORE ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY
 DESIGN BIOMIMETIC IS A BRIDGE THAT CAN CONNECT ARCHITECTURAL AND
DESIGN PROFESSIONS ON A ROUTE TO LINKING DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES IN A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
 DESIGN BIOMIMETIC CAN EMPHASIZE WAYS OF THINKING AND DESIGNING THAT

BRING ARCHITECTURE AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INTO A PROCESS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL FOCUS ON MORE RESPONSIVE, SAFER
BUILDINGS.
 BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGY WOULD HELP US ALSO OVERCOME ENVIRONMENTAL

ISSUES, SUCH AS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, GLOBAL WARMING, OR EVEN THE
OZONE HOLE BY REDUCING THE VAST AMOUNT OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM THE
BUILT MATERIAL AND PURIFYING THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS ONE HAS

TO PREDICT THAT THIS IMPRESSIVE NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL BE NECESSARY TO
USE IN THIS 21 CENTURY AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT WELL IN ORDER TO BE
USED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE HUMANITY
DEVELOPMENT
5.3 CRITICISM
AS MUCH AS A PROPONENT OF BIOMIMICRY AS I AM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE

REALISTIC ABOUT WHERE NATURE'S STRATEGIES WILL AND WON'T HELP YOU,
RATHER THAN CLOSING ANYTHING OVER. THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME DRAWBACKS
TO THE WAY LIFE DESIGNS, WHICH YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO IMITATE (UNLESS
YOU CAN SOMEHOW TURN THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE). MOSTLY POINTED OUT IN
KELLY AND VOGEL'S WORKS, THERE ARE THREE MAIN STUMBLING BLOCKS
 EVOLUTION CAN ONLY FIND LOCAL OPTIMA, NOT GLOBAL OPTIMA. PUT ANOTHER
WAY, EVOLUTION REQUIRES EVERY GENERATION TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE
ADVANTAGE--WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM ONE STRATEGY TO ANOTHER; YOU
CANNOT GET WORSE FOR A FEW GENERATIONS, KNOWING THAT IN THE END
YOU'LL GET BETTER THAN YOU COULD HAVE WITH THE ORIGINAL STRATEGY.
36
THUS NATURE SHUTS OUT MANY DESIGN POSSIBILITIES THAT WE HUMANS CAN
FIND
 NATURAL PRODUCTS NEED CONTINUAL MAINTENANCE AND/OR REBUILDING THIS

CAN EASILY BE TURNED INTO AN ADVANTAGE FOR PRODUCTS MEANT TO
BIODEGRADE OR PLANNED TO OBSOLESCE. BUT MOST OFTEN IT IS SIMPLY A
REMINDER TO NOT IMITATE TOO SLAVISHLY
 ORGANISMS CAN'T BORROW DESIGNS FROM OTHERS; THEY HAVE TO EVOLVE
FROM WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. HUMAN DESIGNERS, HOWEVER, CAN MIX AND
MATCH FREELY FROM DIFFERENT PRODUCTS IN WHOLE OTHER GENRES. THERE'S

NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING A BUILDING WHOSE WALLS INSULATE LIKE
PENGUIN FEATHERS BUT ARE STRUCTURED LIKE CRAB SHELL. SOME COMPANIES
ARE DOING THINGS LIKE THIS IN BIOLOGY WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING (GENE-
SPLICING CROPS, ETC.), BUT THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HAS
FREQUENTLY SHOWN IT TO BE A BAD IDEA
5.4 FUTURE SCOPE
NATURE HAS LEARNED HOW TO ACHIEVE MOST EFFICIENT MULTIFUNCTIONAL
STRUCTURES, IE, FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION. THE OPTIMIZED BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION
SHOULD GIVE US INSPIRATION AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS WITH MULTISCALE STRUCTURES MOST

OF CURRENT WORK HAS STILL FOCUSED ON THE BIOMIMETIC SYNTHESIS OF
MULTISCALE STRUCTURES INSPIRED BY ONE BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS . IN THE NEAR
FUTURE, THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH DIRECTIONS SHOULD BE A GROWING AND
VIGOROUS FIELD
 TO EXTEND THE FUNCTION OF BIO-INSPIRED MULTISCALE STRUCTURES THROUGH

MODIFICATION WITH FUNCTIONAL MOLECULES
 TO FABRICATE NOVEL MULTISCALE MATERIALS FOR FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION

INSPIRED BY TWO OR MORE BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS FOR EXAMPLE, TAKING
37
ADVANTAGE OF LAYERED NACRE AND THE MARINE ADHESIVE OF MUSSELS , A
NOVEL NANOSTRUCTURED COMPOSITE FILM WAS CONSTRUCTED
THE FUSION OF TWO OR MORE SEEMINGLY DISTINCT CONCEPTS FOUND IN NATURE
INTO A UNIQUE COMPOSITE WITH EXCELLENT FUNCTIONS IS AN EXCITING DIRECTION
FOR THE FABRICATION OF NOVEL MULTIFUNCTIONAL MATERIALS. ALTHOUGH THE
BIOMIMETIC AND BIO-INSPIRED RESEARCH IS IN ITS INFANCY, IT IS A RAPIDLY
GROWING AND ENORMOUSLY PROMISING FIELD, WHICH WILL BECOME THE FOCUS OF
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN THE NEAR FUTURE
BUILDINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALMOST HALF (48%) OF ALL ENERGY
CONSUMPTION AND GHG EMISSIONS ANNUALLY, GLOBALLY THE PERCENTAGES
EVEN GREATER (US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION)
76% OF ALL POWER PLANT-GENERATED ELECTRICITY IS USED TO OPERATE
BUILDINGS HENCE, THERE IS AN URGENCY FOR ACTION TO PROTECT OUR
ENVIRONMENT URGENTLY
38
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What is the dissertation about?

What is the dissertation about?

What methodology has been used in the dissertation?

What methodology has been used in the dissertation?

HINDU SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Submitted by: Guided by:

This is to certify that the dissertation titled “ BIOMIMICRY IN ARCHITECTURE ”,

____________________ _______________________ ____________________

1. Dissertation Title: Biomimicry in Architecture

1.1. INTRODUCTION: -…………………………………………………………………4

2.1. BACKGROUND: -………………………………………...……………..…………..9

3. CHAPTER 3 - INFLUENCE OF BIOMIMICRY ON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

3.1. BIOMIMETIC TECHNOLOGY: -………………………………………..………….15

4. CHAPTER 4 - CASE STUDIES: APPLICATION OF BIOMIMICRY IN ARCH. DESIGN

4.1. INTRODUCTION: -…………………………………………………………………..20

5. CHAPTER 5 - CONCLUSION (SUMMARY)

5.1. FINAL CONCLUSION: -……………………………………………………….…….35

THIS DISSERTATION INTENDS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CREATING AN

ARCHITECTURE THAT IS CONSIDERATE OF NATURE AND ITS ABILITY TO TRANSFORM A

DWELLING INTO AN ENLIVENED SPACE.

IN TODAY'S INCREASINGLY URBAN LANDSCAPE, WHERE POWER AND MONEY HAVE

ENVIRONMENT. RATHER THAN BUILDING WITH RESPECT TO PLACE AND DRAWING ON

THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF A SITE, EMPHASIS IS ON QUICK-BUILD AND MASS

PROJECT SHOULD BE APPROACHED AS SUCH- EXCLUSIVE! IT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE WELL-

BEING OF THE HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO EXPERIENCE NATURE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. THE

CLEMENT OF THE NATURAL WORLD BE PRESENT IN ALL BUILDINGS? EVEN AN ADDITION

DRAW ON NATURE, WOULD PROVIDE A PLACE OF CONTEMPLATION AND CALM AMIDST

AND OUR LANDSCAPE REFLECTS IDENTICAL BUILDING CHOICES, REGARDLESS OF

THE DISSERTATION RESEARCHES THE POSSIBILITY OF LINKING AND APPLYING OF

BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF EMERGING

SCIENCES IN DEVELOPING A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE DESIGN SOLUTION

FOR A TRULY APPEALING ARCHITECTURE THAT IS SYMPATHETIC WITH ITS

SOUL AND NATURE.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES ON ECOLOGY IS TREMENDOUS AND A BETTER SOLUTION

CONTROLLING ITS OWN SUSTAINABILITY HENCE, HERE WE DISCUSS THE BELIEF OF

BIOMIMICRY BEING A POWERFUL FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN, USING NATURE AS

MEASURE, MODEL AND MENTOR

WORKS AND THEORIES UNDER TILTS EVOLUTION AS A RESPONSE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM

APPLYING BIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF BOTH

EMERGING SCIENCES IN DEVELOPING A MORE PRACTICAL AND REGENERATIVE

ARCHITECTURE. AND FINALLY, RELATING THE APPLICATIONS OF BIOMIMICRY TO STUDY

ITS SCOPE IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ARCHITECTURE.

 EXPLORE THE RELEVANCE OF BIOMIMICRY AS NATURE INSPIRED INNOVATION.

ASSOCIATED WITH BIO- MIMETIC DESIGN?

 ANALYZE AND EVALUATE CASE STUDIES REPRESENTING SUCH A TECHNOLOGY.

SIGNIFICANT TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION,

FOCUSING ON THE POSSIBILITY OF APPLYING SELECTED BIOMIMETIC PRINCIPLES FOR

FUTURE SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS OF BUILDINGS SOLVING PURPOSES LIKE

 CREATING LARGE SPAN CLEAR UNOBSTRUCTED AREAS

ASSURED THE STUDY IS ONLY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING AND RELATING THE

PREMISE OF BIO-MIMETIC ARCHITECTURE, WHICH IS NOT A DETAILED ONE AND FOCUSES

ON ONLY THE KEY BIOMIMETIC ASPECTS OF THE BUILDING

HOME THAT IS OURS, BUT NOT OURS ALONE

ENVIRONMENT. THE NATURAL WORLD IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF SOMETHING

OF FUNCTIONING AROUND US TODAY. SO IN OUR QUEST TO CREATE A MORE RESEARCH

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE MANKIND HAS GATHERED, NATURE STILL HOLDS GREAT

MYSTERIES THAT WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO UNRAVEL. THIS COMPLEXITY HAS

CONTINUALLY DAUNTED MAN. IN FRUSTRATION, WE TRY TO CONTROL NATURE BY

________ _ __________