Biomimicry: Emulating Nature's Genius
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Biomimicry Biomimicry Emulating Nature’s Genius Brightworks Nicole Isle | Aron Bosworth
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Biomimicry offers a holistic and deeply rooted method for achieving true sustainability. Nature embodies more than four billion years of experience perfecting the designs and behaviors that make organisms and living systems thrive. This unique presentation was created by a biologist and architectural designer, both professionally trained in Biomimicry and sustainable building design.
Transcript of Biomimicry: Emulating Nature's Genius
BiomimicryBiomimicryEmulating Nature’s GeniusBrightworksNicole Isle | Aron Bosworth
BiomimicryBiomimicryAn IntroductionAn Introduction
Current Events
World’s Most Influential Designers
How does nature reduce drag?
WhalePower wind turbine blade design gains productivity by reducing dragImages courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
WhalePower wind turbine blade design gains productivity by reducing drag.• 32% less drag• 20% production increase
How Does Nature Use Pattern?
The InterfaceFLOR Entropy carpet tiles capitalize on the consistency of inconsistency.
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
y• Reduces waste• Embraces diversity – broadens materials palette, competitor’s
waste = product feedstock!p
How Does Nature Cool?
The Eastgate Centre in Harare Zimbabwe uses a natural cooling system that pre tempers the air and exhausts through chimneys the same way
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
that pre-tempers the air and exhausts through chimneys the same way termites do.
• 90% energy reduction for cooling loads
How Does Nature Manage Water?
Lavasa Hill Station near Pune, India in the Western Ghats uses a site d i th t i i h th di f t t d
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
design that mimics how the surrounding forest manages water and controls erosion.
• Inspiration: Tree canopies, root systems and water storage
Biomimicry
Innovation M k ‘b d t i bilit ’ iblMakes ‘beyond sustainability’ accessible
Broadens the solution space
SustainabilityEcological literacyEnvironmentalist ideal – ecological imperative
Biomimicry
“the conscious emulation of life’s genius”g
Bio = life living thingsBio = life, living things
Mimic = simulate, emulate
F o r e t h o u g h t i n t e n t i o nF o r e t h o u g h t , i n t e n t i o nN o t a s l a v i s h r e - c r e a t i o n , u n d e r s t a n d c o n t e x t
I t f th Bi i i I tit tJanine Benyus, Co-founder Biomimicry Guild
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
fe
3.85 billion years ago
3.5 billion years ago
Life Appears
Photosynthesis Evolves
Lifof
ry
to
r1.5 billion years agoMulti‐celled Organisms Appear
Hist
508 million years agoFish Appear H430 million years ago350 million years ago246 million years ago
212 million years ago65 million years ago4 million years ago50, 000 years ago
Fish Appear
Land Plants Appear Amphibians Appear
Mammals AppearBirds AppearDinosaur ExtinctionHominids Walk on Two Limbs
Homo Sapiens Sapiens Appears
Present Day
Evolution provides
3 85 billion years of trial and error research and3.85 billion years of trial and error, research and development,
and rigorous quality control testing that resulted in aand rigorous quality control testing that resulted in a
99.9% failure rate, so that the estimated
30 million different species of organisms living on earth today are success stories.
They have figured out materials, forms, processes, systems, and t t i d d t t i th l i th diti th itstrategies needed to sustain themselves in the conditions on earth as it
is today –
the very same conditions in which we must sustainthe very same conditions in which we must sustain ourselves.
MENTOR MODEL MEASURE
Nature as MENTOR
quiet your
clevernessImages courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
Nature as MODEL
Mimicking Form
Hexagonal structure uses the least material to create a
lattice of cells with minimal surface area and the largestsurface area and the largest
possible volume.
A li ti IdApplication Ideas: • building structural stability• minimizing material
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
Mimicking Process
A li i IdApplication Ideas:• organizational / changemanagement
• transportation systems
It is believed that social insects have been so successful they are almost everywhereIt is believed that social insects have been so successful – they are almost everywhere in the ecosphere – because of three characteristics:
• flexibility (the colony can adapt to a changing environment
• robustness (when one or more individuals fail the group can still perform its task• robustness (when one or more individuals fail, the group can still perform its task
• self‐organization (activities are neither centrally controlled nor locally supervised)
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
Mimicking (Eco)System
Forest ecosystems are subject to disturbances that create gaps in the forest stand. Change creates new opportunity for growth to maintain and enhance many ecosystemmaintain and enhance many ecosystem values. Ecological features of forest stands:• Size and shape• Abundance• Composition• Spatial / temporal distribution
Application Idea: City Planning
Earth’s Operating Conditions
– Earth is in a constant state of dynamic non-equilibrium
– Earth is water based
– Subject to limits and bounds
Credit:ADAM NIEMAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
“Each i ispecies is a
masterpiece…” E.O. WilsonE.O. Wilson
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
Life’s Principles
Life creates
Life adapts creates
conditions conducive
t lif
pand evolves
to life
Life’s Principles
Life creates optimizing rather
th i i i
using multi-functional design
fitting form to functionconditions conducive
to life
than maximizing
leveraging
fitting form to function
recycling all materialsto life leveraging
interdependenceself organizing
Life adapts
using benign manufacturing
using life-friendly materials
using water based chemistrypand evolves
fostering cooperative relationships
using self assembly
Life’s Principles
Life creates optimizing rather
th i i i
using multi-functional design
fitting form to function
conditions conducive
to life
than maximizingrecycling all materials
to life
Life’s Principles
Life creates Locally attuned
and responsive
feedback loops
resourceful and opportunistic
conditions conducive
to life
and responsive free energy
shape rather than materialto life
Resilientantenna, signal, response
cellular and nested
Life adapts
Integrates cyclic processes
simple, common building blocks
learns and imitates
cross pollination and mutationpand evolves
cross pollination and mutation
diversedecentralized and distributed
redundantredundant
Life’s Principles
Locally attuned and responsive
resourceful and opportunistic
and responsive free energy
shape rather than material
simple, common building blocks
Life adapts pand evolves
Biomimicry & the Built EnvironmentEnvironmentUnderstanding EcosystemUnderstanding Ecosystem Functions
Understanding Ecosystem Functions
“When the forest and the city are
then we know we have reached sustainability.” ~Janine Benyus
Provisioning: food, fuel, fresh water, genetic resources, fiber, etc.
Regulating: climate regulation, flood regulation, disease regulation, etc.
Supporting: nutrient cycling, soil formation, photosynthesis, etc.
Cultural: biophilia, educational, spiritual, recreational, etc.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, The Case of Sustainable Landscapes 2009
Fig. 2-1. The Bounty of Ecosystems
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008
Fig. 2-4. Restoring Ecosystem Services
Two Design Approaches
Design to Biology Biology to Design
Two Design Approaches
Design to Biology Biology to Design
Identify the real challenge
Evaluateagainst Life’s Principles
Discovernatural models
Evaluateagainst Life’s Principles
Translate toEmulate AbstractEmulateTranslate to the design
brief
Discover
Emulatenatural
strategies
Abstract design
principles
Identify
Emulatenatural
strategies
Discover natural models
Identifyapplication
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
DISCOVERnatural models
Evaluateagainst Life’s PrinciplesPrinciples
Abstract design
principles
Emulatenatural
strategies
Identifyapplication
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
Existing Site Conditions
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
Existing Site Conditions
Existing Site Conditions
Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Discovernatural models
Evaluateagainst Life’s Principles
ABSTRACTEmulate ABSTRACTdesign principles
Identify
Emulatenatural
strategies
Identifyapplication
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Floodplain FunctionsW t l iWater cleansing
Water supply & regulationregulation
Erosion & sediment control
Habitat functions
Waste decomposition & treatment
Human health & well‐being
Cultural benefits
Historic Conditions
Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Discovernatural models
Evaluateagainst Life’s Principles
Abstract Emulatedesign
principles
IDENTIFY
natural strategies
application opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Functional Examples
Cheonggyecheon StreamSeoul, South Korea
Functional Examples
Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Discovernatural models
Evaluateagainst Life’s Principles
AbstractEMULATE Abstract design
principles
Identify
EMULATEnatural strategies
Identifyapplication
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Conceptual Site Design
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
Conceptual Site Design
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
Conceptual Site Design
I t f AC M ti P t IImage courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Discovernatural models
EVALUATEagainst Life’s Principles
bl
Principles
Abstract design
principles
Id tif
Emulatenatural
strategies
Identifyapplication
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute
Biomimicry o c yResources Tree of Life Web Project
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
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Brightworks Sustainability Advisors helps our clients create lasting value by aligning their efforts with basic principles of ecological social andwith basic principles of ecological, social and economic sustainability. Recognized as a leading provider of end-to-end sustainability services in the built environment and for organizational strategy, we have completed more than 90 LEED certified buildings across the countrycertified buildings across the country.
