Biomimetic architecture is a contemporary

philosophy of architecture that seeks solutions

for sustainability in nature, not by replicating
the natural forms, but by understanding the
rules governing those forms. It is a multi-
disciplinary approach to sustainable design
that follows a set of principles rather than
stylistic codes. It is part of a larger movement
known as biomimicry, which is the examination
of nature, its models, systems, and processes
for the purpose of gaining inspiration in order
to solve man-made problems.
Humans are clever, but without intending to,
we have created massive sustainability
problems for future generations. Fortunately,
solutions to these global challenges are all
around us.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that
seeks sustainable solutions to human
challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested
patterns and strategies. The goal is to create
products, processes, and policies—new ways
of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth
over the long haul.
The core idea is that nature has already solved
many of the problems we are grappling with.
Animals, plants, and microbes are the
consummate engineers. After billions of years
of research and development, failures are
fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to
survival.
Biomimetic architecture uses nature as a
model, measure and mentor to solve problems
in architecture. It is not the same as
biomorphic architecture, which uses natural
existing elements as sources of inspiration for
aesthetic components of form. Instead,
biomimetic architecture looks to nature as a
model to imitate or take inspiration from
natural designs and processes and applies it to
the man-made. It uses nature as a measure
meaning biomimicry uses an ecological
standard to judge the efficiency of human
innovations. Nature as a mentor means that
biomimicry does not try to exploit nature by
extracting material goods from it, but values
nature as something humans can learn from.[9]
Biomimetic architecture uses nature as a
model, measure and mentor to solve problems
in architecture. It is not the same as
biomorphic architecture, which uses natural
existing elements as sources of inspiration for
aesthetic components of form. Instead,
biomimetic architecture looks to nature as a
model to imitate or take inspiration from
natural designs and processes and applies it to
the man-made. It uses nature as a measure
meaning biomimicry uses an ecological
standard to judge the efficiency of human
innovations. Nature as a mentor means that
biomimicry does not try to exploit nature by
extracting material goods from it, but values
nature as something humans can learn from.[9]
Three Levels of Mimicry[edit]
Biomimicry can work on three levels:
the organism,
its behaviors, and
the ecosystem.

Buildings on the organism level mimic a specific organism. Working on this level
alone without mimicking how the organism participates in a larger context may not
be sufficient to produce a building that integrates well with its environment
because an organism always functions and responds to a larger context. On a
behavior level, buildings mimic how an organism behaves or relates to its larger
context. On the level of the ecosystem, a building mimics the natural process and
cycle of the greater environment. Ecosystem principles follow that ecosystems (1)
are dependent on contemporary sunlight; (2) optimize the system rather than its
components; (3) are attuned to and dependent on local conditions; (4) are diverse
in components, relationships and information; (5) create conditions favorable to
sustained life; and (6) adapt and evolve at different levels and at different
rates.[12] Essentially, this means that a number of components and processes make
up an ecosystem and they must work with each other rather than against in order
for the ecosystem to run smoothly. For architectural design to mimic nature on the
ecosystem level it should follow these six principles.
Organism Level[edit]
On the organism level, the architecture looks
to the organism itself, applying its form and/or
functions to a building.

Norman Foster’s Gherkin Tower (2003) has a

hexagonal skin inspired by the Venus Flower Basket
Sponge. This sponge sits in an underwater
environment with strong water currents and its
lattice-like exoskeleton and round shape help
disperse those stresses on the organism.[13]
The Eden Project (2001) in Cornwall, England is a
series of artificial biomes with domes modeled after
soap bubbles and pollen grains. Grimshaw Architects
looked to nature to build an effective spherical
shape. The resulting geodesic hexagonal bubbles
inflated with air were constructed of Ethylene
Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a material that is both
light and strong.[14] The final superstructure weighs
less than the air it contains.
Eden Project