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Ideas for Space - Bioinspired Architectural Design

Gruber, Petra

Biomimetics in architecture is the strategic search for nature's solution for architectural application. As in other application fields of biomimetics, all existing phenomena - materials, surfaces, structures and constructions, functions, mechanisms, principles and processes of nature - can deliver role models for transformation. The abstract solution found in nature can be applied to all scales of architecture and all processes involved in its creation. Biomimetic aspects can be realised on the scale of material, surface, structure and construction, building elements and parts, buildings but also settlement and urban structures and regional planning - all scales of what we call 'built environment'. During the transformation process occurring in this design method, change of scale, change of timescale or change of the surrounding medium, for example from water to air as environment, may be required. Designing architecture is working with space rather than matter. The main tasks in architecture are defining, creating and ordering of space for the activities 'taking place'. These tasks that have to be fulfilled are suitable for a biomimetic translation: place elements in space, orientation in space and separation of space, again by placement of suitable elements. The projects presented in the following were not designed in order to fulfil specific tasks, but were ordered using these tasks. The biomimetic design exercise followed a 'bottom up' approach. The role model from nature was selected according to a personal preference, regardless of a given problem to solve. A research phase delivered scientific information on the phenomenon. The abstract principle was then translated into an architectural application. As a consequence, the fuzzy approach seems to be most promising in order to gain innovative projects. The strategy of only roughly defining an application and take a whole set of phenomena as starting point seems to be the best way to achieve innovative results. Gradual differentiation with respect to starting points and application tasks may deliver an applicable method for biomimetic architectural design. Success rate is increased with intensity of consultancy and integration of experts from other disciplines. Ideally, apart from contracted research, the dynamically calling in of experts is enabled. Research from life sciences should be accessible and the interdisciplinary exchange enhanced.