Application of Biomimetics to Architectural and Urban Design: A Review across Scales

Uchiyama, Yuta; Blanco, Eduardo; Kohsaka, Ryo

doi:10.3390/su12239813

“…This trend deserves further exploration with a larger and exhaustive sample. This trend converges with the increase in biomimicry research applied to architecture and urban design in the last years already demonstrated by previous research [ 4 , 5 ]. Two important milestones in the French timeline that contributed to more visibility and interest in biomimicry are the Alguesens project (2016) and the Ecotone project (2017).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Ecosystem-level biomimicry is a growing research topic [ 4 , 16 ], and its first position in our sample highlights a particular interest in the practice for this subject. We assume that ecosystem-level inspiration helps address transversal and systemic urban challenges such as biodiversity loss, the materials, and energy flows between urban and ecological systems [ 16 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biomimicry draws upon emulation of, and knowledge transfer from, living organisms and whole ecosystems to find solutions to human problems [ 1 ]. In the built environment sciences, it is a growing topic [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], with an application that mainly aims for sustainable innovation [ 3 , 5 ]. Biomimicry offers an opportunity to operationalize sustainability and regenerative development on architectural and urban projects [ 2 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimicry in French Urban Projects: Trends and Perspectives from the Practice

Blanco

¹

,

Cruz²,

Lequette³

et al. 2021

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Biomimicry is a design framework with growing interests in sustainable architectural and urban design practice. Nevertheless, there is a significant lack of studies and knowledge regarding its practical application. In 2020, a French workgroup called Biomim’City Lab published a document identifying and describing 16 urban projects designed by French teams integrating biomimicry at various levels. Our research is an opportunistic study analyzing this data, aiming to identify trends and challenges in the French market. We analyzed the projects using a mixed-method approach, through quantitative typological analysis and qualitative narrative analysis. This sample of French projects indicates a trend of increasing interest in biomimicry on built space projects in France. Biomimicry was primarily applied at the façade/roof/soil systems, mostly using macroscopic models as ecosystems, plants, and animals. Designers declared to aim diverse objectives with the biomimetic approach; still, thermal comfort is the most recurrent in the sample. We also identified that challenges remain to foster the field application, as the lack of awareness of the urban fabric stakeholders on the topic and the gaps between research and design practice.

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“…Several buildings have already employed this approach, going through formal biomimetic development methods for design, and integrating functional solutions to meet sustainable development challenges, as the Eastgate Building in Harare (Zimbabwe), and the Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne (Australia) [9,11]. At the urban scale, the application of biomimicry has been less explored [12]. Where it is apparent, design inspiration typically draws upon ecosystems rather than individual organisms [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry and Regenerative Design: Linking Ecosystem Functioning and Urban Built Environments

Blanco

¹

,

Zari

²

,

Raskin³

et al. 2021

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By 2050, 68% of the world’s population will likely live in cities. Human settlements depend on resources, benefits, and services from ecosystems, but they also tend to deplete ecosystem health. To address this situation, a new urban design and planning approach is emerging. Based on regenerative design, ecosystem-level biomimicry, and ecosystem services theories, it proposes designing projects that reconnect urban space to natural ecosystems and regenerate whole socio-ecosystems, contributing to ecosystem health and ecosystem services production. In this paper, we review ecosystems as models for urban design and review recent research on ecosystem services production. We also examine two illustrative case studies using this approach: Lavasa Hill in India and Lloyd Crossing in the U.S.A. With increasing conceptualisation and application, we argue that the approach contributes positive impacts to socio-ecosystems and enables scale jumping of regenerative practices at the urban scale. However, ecosystem-level biomimicry practices in urban design to create regenerative impact still lack crucial integrated knowledge on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services productions, making it less effective than potentially it could be. We identify crucial gaps in knowledge where further research is needed and pose further relevant research questions to make ecosystem-level biomimicry approaches aiming for regenerative impact more effective.

show abstract

“…Several buildings have already employed this approach, going through formal biomimetic development methods for design, and integrating functional solutions to meet sustainable development challenges, as the Eastgate Building in Harare (Zimbabwe), and the Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne (Australia) [9,11]. At the urban scale, the application of biomimicry has been less explored [12]. Where it is apparent, design inspiration typically draws upon ecosystems rather than individual organisms [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry and Regenerative Design: Linking Ecosystem Functioning and Urban Built Environments

Blanco¹,

Zari²,

Raskin³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

By 2050, 68% of the world’s population will likely live in cities. Human settlements depend on resources, benefits, and services from ecosystems, but they also tend to deplete ecosystem health. To address this situation, a new urban design and planning approach is emerging. Based on regenerative design, ecosystem-level biomimicry, and ecosystem services theories, it proposes designing projects that reconnect urban space to natural ecosystems and regenerate whole socio-ecosystems, contributing to ecosystem health and ecosystem services production. In this paper, we review ecosystems as models for urban design and review recent research on ecosystem services production. We also examine two illustrative case studies using this approach: Lavasa Hill in India and Lloyd Crossing in the U.S.A. With increasing conceptualisation and application, we argue that the approach contributes positive impacts to socio-ecosystems and enables scale jumping of regenerative practices at the urban scale. However, ecosystem-level biomimicry practices in urban design to create regenerative impact still lack crucial integrated knowledge on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services productions, making it less effective than potentially it could be. We identify crucial gaps in knowledge where further research is needed and pose further relevant research questions to make ecosystem-level biomimicry approaches aiming for regenerative impact more effective.

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Application of Biomimetics to Architectural and Urban Design: A Review across Scales

Cited by 25 publications

References 83 publications

Biomimicry in French Urban Projects: Trends and Perspectives from the Practice

Biomimicry in French Urban Projects: Trends and Perspectives from the Practice

Urban Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry and Regenerative Design: Linking Ecosystem Functioning and Urban Built Environments

Urban Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry and Regenerative Design: Linking Ecosystem Functioning and Urban Built Environments

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