Week 9: Biology in Design

Biomimicry: "an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies." (Biomimicry Institute)

Like a chameleon? Eh. Kind of. 

More like imitating and using nature's example to help solve our problems. 

Design isn't just for decor. More and more recently, especially in our current-day strive for efficiency and green things, design is purposed to have maximum potential. This topic is inspired and drawn from the article written by Kiley Jacques, "Bio Building" in the USGBC+ Magazine. 

"Biomimicry" basically was coined after Janine Benyus's intense focus upon sustainable innovations mirroring nature. Benyus, a biologist, wrote the book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, and from here melded the world of biology into ... basically all of the other worlds. Engineering, product design, computer industries... Effectively innovating the design of different products, conceptions, and forms, made them much simpler and efficient. 

Drawing from the examples from the article piece, there is an Optistruct software developed by Jeff Brennan for computer-aided design and manufacturing programs. Brennan developed this software with inspiration drawn from bones. The bone-like inspiration helps with supporting structures, as well as lightweighting to reduce material usage. 

There is also paint inspired from lotus leaves (as water molecules roll off the paint surface, they also collect loose dirt). As well as, another type of paint that was inspired by peacock feathers (omits the inclusion of potential toxic pigments). 

Lotus-inspired self cleaning paint (cred)

As buildings now increasingly are developed in order to solve problems greater than living and working space (such as living environment, climate change, gas emissions), there comes a necessity for innovative ideas to develop as well. Not just functional, but also aesthetic. Not just aesthetic, but also functional. In my opinion, I believe that aestheticism is a category within functionality.  

When I asked Lance what his balance was between functionality and aestheticism, he said 80% for function. Basically meaning, function is has the higher priority, although aestheticism is important as well. 

In my opinion, all things natural are naturally aesthetic. It's the goal we are all reaching for. Perfect functionality, and an impeccable design. 

As I requote the quote quoted by Benyus at the end of the article: "The goal is to build cities that are functionally indistinguishable from the wildlife around them. That's true biomimicry."

Check out the original article HERE, on page 28! 


And just for fun, I know I spent an emphasis on the function of biomimicry on this post, but aesthetic-wise for building inspiration, biomimicry is pretty great: 

Singapore's durian fruit-inspired building (cred)

(although technically called the Esplanade Theatre, I do know that locals nickname it the durian haha!)

Mercedes' Bionic Car (cred), modeled after the yellow boxfish (actually this design does serve for better function as well!---apparently it has some great acceleration as well as less emissions)