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Biomimicry in Architecture and Clothing
Biomimicry in Architecture and Clothing
2학년 7반 김신영
Introduction to Biomimicry
The word Biomimicry comes from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and
mimesis, meaning to imitate, in the sense of re-presentation rather than copy.
Animals, plants, and microbes are really all nature’s engineers. After nearly 4
billion years of evolution, research, and development from the extinct and extant
organisms on earth, failures are fossils and what surrounds us is the secret to
survival. Nature has learned what works, and what lasts. Biomimicry is a new way
of viewing nature; it introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the
world, but on what we can learn from it.
One of the earliest examples of biomimicry was the study of birds that enabled
humans to gain the technology of flight. Though, it could be argued that the
earliest form of biomimicry was our ancestors mimicking the behaviors and
techniques of the animals around them to become more successful hunters and
gatherers or to create better shelter. Sustainable development is moving to a new
level where buildings are integral to nature, supporting nature’s creations rather
than interfering with life-sustaining ecosystems. Nature has always been offering
immense ideas and inspiration to designers and architects for creating clothing
and architecture.
Biomimicry, when applied to the clothing industry, goes far beyond the
look of the textile. Biomimetics is a field of study in which scientists examine
nature and borrow elements of design to create new technologies and products.
Biomimicry clothing aims at applying biological processes and organisms to
material that in a way, reconnects our body to nature. The field is working on
fabrics that will be self-cleaning, self-repairing, superhydrophobic, and
energy-preserving, amongst other things. Even though there is a lot to discover
and develop in this field, the results that have already been obtained are an
indicator of how fashion in the near future may change to create garments that
will be functional and ‘intelligent’ for both preserving the planet and improving
the quality of life.
Biomimicry in Architecture
Although more often likened to a vegetable of the same name, this famous
tower in London was actually inspired by a marine animal known as Venus's
flower basket sea sponge. This creature was named after its hollow tubular
structure (or 'basket'), supported by a lattice-like exoskeleton. Although it may
look delicate, the Venus’s flower basket sea sponge makes its own fiberglass by
extracting silicic acid from seawater and then converting it into silica. It then
fashions this silica into small spikes, which are then arranged vertically,
horizontally, and diagonally to form a cage-like structure around itself. This
organic scaffold provides immense mechanical strength, enabling these sponges
to live at depths of up to 1km below water.
The external scaffold of the Gherkin mimics the arrangement of the Venus’s
flower basket sea sponge. The curved sides of the building allow winds to easily
pass around it, rather than being deflected down to street level to blast
pedestrians. Because more air can flow around the side of a cylinder than the
corner of a rectangle, the wind speed increases. Architect Norman Foster used
this to make a natural ventilation system. Large vents at street level suck in air
and funnel it upwards through the building, reducing the need for air
conditioning by ~50%.
Biomimicry in Clothing
Although the original Fastskin model is retired, the newer versions, FSII and
Fastskin LZR Racer are considered by many experts to be the most advanced
professional swimwear in the world. By July 2008, more than 40 swimming
records have been broken by swimmers using the Fastskin LZR Racer.
4. Conclusion
Ever since the term ‘biomimicry’ emerged, scientists from all over the globe
have intensely studied biological systems, experimented with new ideas, and
attempted to create innovations molded from nature. In just these limited
examples of sharkskin-inspired swimwear and a trade building modeled off of a
sea sponge, we can see just how efficient biomimicry is, and how far science has
progressed in just over 2 million years. Biomimicry can lead to unexpected
innovations and technologies that can succeed even if not adhering to strict
biomimicry– promising that unexpected innovations and spinoffs from studies of
biomimicry can spark new ideas and affect the future of any field.
건축과 의복에서 볼 수 있는 생체모방기술
(한글해석본)
2학년 7반 김신영
1. 생체모방기술의 소개
2. 건축에서의 생체 모방
3. 의복의 생체모방기술
원래의 Fastskin 모델은 폐기되었지만, 새로운 버전인 FSII와 Fastskin LZR Racer는
많은 전문가들에 의해 세계에서 가장 진보된 전문 수영복으로 여겨집니다. 2008년
7월까지는, 40개 이상의 수영 기록이 Fastskin LZR Racer를 사용한 수영 선수들에
의해 깨졌습니다.
Superhydrophobic 초소수성
Exoskeleton 외골격
Tubular 튜브 모양의
Lattice 격자 모양의 것
Fiberglass 섬유 유리
Silicic acid 규산
Silica 실리카
Vortice 소용돌이
Discrepancy 차이
Longitudinally 세로(방향)의
Overlapping 겹치는
Sheet 판