Biomimicry

Better Future

How are the traits of biomimicry being used in design to create a better, more sustainable future?

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Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature,1 It is a new science that studies nature’s best ideas, by understanding nature’s models, measures and mentor. Thus, solving human problems by taking inspirations from nature’s designs and processes. Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the ‘rightness’ of the innovations.2 Biomimicry is a design tool used in recent years mainly by designers and architects to

create sustainable buildings, spaces, and products. Taking nature as a blueprint is an innovative approach to spatial design to support sustainability. This study explores structures, material and toxic waste and how biomimicry can be employed to solve certain problems currently encountered in these areas. This study is conducted as a literature review in conjunction with two case studies about spiders and butterflies. Biomimicry is a modern term coined in the last 20 years but a number of designers have already been practising within this area, unknowingly. It has been used by designers in a number of disciplines, for example, Frei Otto was able to create masterpieces based around tensile strength, similar to that found in spider’s webs. Additionally, Donna Sgro4 was able to mimic the ‘structural colouration’ found in butterflies within textile design. Biomimicry is a beneficial element in design, as it is able to support a more sustainable solution within spatial design.

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- Septemeber-May 2018

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To see the full dissertation click here.