Over the past few decades, biometric architecture has shifted away from looking to nature for organic shapes to drawing inspiration from natural strategies. Today, biomimicry refers to imitating these biological processes to devise new sustainable solutions in construction and design. This trend is significant in a world where building materials, energy and other nonrenewable resources are in short supply.
Of course, some biometric structures do end up looking like their natural counterparts, but that’s just icing on the cake. In the real world, these design choices are just as functional as they are beautiful.
Biometrics In the Real World
Thousands of examples of biometric architecture exist throughout the world. Many of them draw inspiration from the same natural wonders, from termite hills to sea anemones. However, each one looks different from the other, which only inspires other architects to flex their creative muscles and design even better buildings.
Synthetic Building Materials
The construction industry already uses a wide variety of synthetic materials when building. However, biometric synthetic material is different because it contains healing agents that can self-repair damages and cracks, much like human skin can.
This concept draws inspiration from cyanobacteria that flourish in oceans and undergo exponential regrowth when split into pieces. Building materials that mimic these self-healing organisms could help architects design climate-resistant buildings that can withstand — or quickly recover from — extreme weather conditions. If innovators could add living matter like bacteria to these materials, they could potentially sequester carbon and offset emissions.
Some building materials even draw directly from biological sources; an amino acid produced by the blue mussel mollusk can create an adhesive using in building products that is free of volatile organic compounds.
Building materials inspired by biomimicry have plenty of potential. Scientists developing these techniques are looking to nature to find healthier, more sustainable alternatives for builders.
Responsive Facade
A typical building facade consists of walls and windows, which are exposed to the sun and elements throughout the year. As a result, the building requires more energy to regulate its interior temperature. However, structures incorporating kinetic or responsive facades can change the building envelope to minimize power consumption and protect inhabitants and the environment.
Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre is an excellent example of a building with a responsive facade. This structure mimics the semi-rigid skin of the durian plant, which is covered in spines to protect its seeds. The theater’s exterior also protects its interior by following the sun’s path through the sky. The facade adjusts itself along the way to let in just enough sunlight without causing the space to overheat.
Natural Ventilation
Many biometric architects have also drawn inspiration from natural ventilation systems, like those found in termite mounds. These mounds, which contain a smorgasbord of fungi, must remain a balmy 87°F while exterior temperatures fluctuate between 35°F and 104°F within a single 24-hour period. Termites achieve constant temperature regulation by building vertical towers that draw air through the bottom, down into the mud, and up through channels at the peak.
Zimbabwe’s Eastgate Center mimics the insects’ system to passively cool its interior. As in the termite mounds, cold air enters the structure during the evening to cool the concrete and lower the internal temperature. When morning comes, warm air vents up through the ceilings and out the chimneys. This system maintains an internal temperature of 82°F during the day and uses 35% less energy than other buildings in Zimbabwe.
Biomimicry Inspiring Creativity in Building
Nature is intelligent — much like humans. Because we’re always looking for ways to make life easier and designs more passive, architects have developed some pretty amazing ideas. However, the natural world still has the upper hand when it comes to adapting to its surroundings.
This is excellent news to the next generation of architects, who will likely look to nature for inspiration. In doing so, they’ll inevitably discover new, creative solutions for tomorrow’s most dire issues. Ultimately, their work will benefit humans and the natural environment, which can only lead to more creative inspiration in the future.
