Let’s be honest, as architects(or architecture students), we have all had at least one concept that was inspired by an element of nature, be it a leaf, a hill, or a banana lol!

Nature is the biggest part of our lives after all, so it is not so surprising that we turn to it to get inspiration, and someone wise once said: art imitates life!

Today’s topic will be about exploring what exactly is biomimicry architecture and how we can go about fusing nature and design thinking in a practical way.

What exactly is biomimicry architecture?

If you haven’t caught on to the term from the beginning, simply put, biomimicry architecture is a design approach that draws inspiration from how nature works to put it into construction.

A good example to help you get the idea of it would be observing how termites build their shelters on the ground with intricate ventilation systems that are suited for cooling them down during harsh hot times.

Biomimicry is often confused with two concepts, biomorphism and bioutilization.

Notice how my first sentence hypothesized that we have all been inspired by nature, and not that we have all copied nature or used nature to design? That is the difference.

Basically, biomorphism is all about designing with the intent to visually look like nature, which most people confuse with biomimicry, but instead of analysing how nature functions and taking inspo from that, biomorphism seeks to look like nature.

Bioutilization is another way people may think biomimicry works, but in reality it is about taking elements of nature and using them directly in design.

So, for example, if you use trees(wood) in your project, then you are applying bioutilization. If you take said tree and design a building that looks like it, then you are applying biomorphism.

But if you look at the tree, the way it behaves in given conditions, and take said behaviours and apply them in design thinking, then you have biomimicry!

How does biomimicry work in architecture?

“But Benii, all this you are saying could be argued to have something in common, so how and why do we differentiate it?”

Well, biomimicry in architecture actually has different types, and you will find that there is a reason the common misconceptions confuse it with biomorphism and bioutilization.

Let’s take a look at the different types or approaches in which biomimicry works in architecture.

1. Form

We can be inspired by the different shapes that are found in nature, and if we’re doing it the biomimicry way we have to remember to go beyond the aesthetics of said shapes.

The secret is in studying how that shape affects the functionality and behavior of the natural element we’re deriving it from. 

So if you look at how a leaf is shaped and feel inspired by it, then take a step further and search how each vein or the curvature of it affects the life of the leaf, etc., and incorporate the knowledge into your concept development.

2. Function

Here you have to look at how different organisms function to adapt to their ecosystems. 

Say you learn about how the cactus plant collects and stores water due to its ribbed surface and apply that in designing buildings that can efficiently capture and store rainwater especially in dry areas.

The key to remember here so as to not fall in the trap of bioutilization while calling it biomimicry is that we apply the concept of how an organism is functioning to adapt to its environment.

3. Process

For us to understand this, let’s take a look at this example: seashells grow and repair themselves naturally through a process called biomineralization, whereby tiny organic molecules guide minerals like calcium carbonate to form strong, layered structures, and when a shell is damaged, the organism can deposit new minerals to repair it.

If we mimic this process in an adapted way, we could think of designing buildings that can sort of “self-heal” like healing cracks on their own with time, which could lead to more durable and resilient architecture that doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.

4. Materiality

We’re in a world of innovation, where every day we are testing the boundaries of what works or not, and nature has a plethora of tricks that we can borrow from.

Imagine building with materials made from agricultural waste that are just as strong as bamboo or spider silk, but are way more eco-friendly! 

But don’t confuse this with literally using living organisms in construction. Making building materials from agricultural waste that are as strong as bamboo or spider silk is inspired by nature, not bioutilization.

Remember, we’re copying nature’s genius, not using nature itself.

Why be concerned about biomimicry in architecture anyways?

Biomimicry in architecture, done in the right way is a huge opportunity to shape the built environment in a way that works with nature.

Incorporating functioning systems from living organisms like the cooling systems by termites, we can enhance the comfortability and habitability of our spaces.

Drawing inspiration from nature also inherently leads to applying sustainability. 

We know organisms don’t use fancy heating machines or other human inventions to make their lives comfortable, so we may have to learn a thing or two from their genius. For energy efficiency.

Granted, biomimicry requires a lot of intensive research, trial and error, and possibly very high costs, but I would argue that it is worth it all.

So the next time you are inspired by nature in your design, don’t just get stuck on the fancy shapes or the default direct use of nature. 

Nature is an incredible teacher, allow yourself to learn from how it works!

Food for thought

One of the reasons I chose to write about this topic today was actually inspired by a memory of my earlier years in school.

I remember we were designing a kindergarten/ECD and most of us didn’t really understand what a concept was in architecture, and we were desperately trying to come up with creative ideas based on nature.

We had someone inspired by a leaf, another by flowers, another by the shape of intestines, and if my memory serves me well, even someone inspired by a butterfly. 

When I talked to a senior student who is a good friend of mine, he shared how that had happened to them too at the start of architecture school, so if this has happened to you, you’re not alone lol.

My own was inspired by an orange at some point, or a ball. To be honest I don’t really remember.

The reason I’m bringing this up, is I was thinking to myself ‘what if I had actually taken that initial orange inspo and learned how oranges function beyond being round?’, maybe I could have designed something interesting.

All this is to say, if you have considered or been inspired by any living element of nature, don’t look at it through a one-dimensional lens. And if you haven’t yet thought of it, maybe this is your sign to explore that!

I had so much fun writing this, and I really hope you could learn something from this. Until next week, bye!