ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abraham García Ortiz Talent Program Intern, in Executive Project Area
“I believe that nature has many interesting resources that can teach us about composition, design and architecture, where the harmony of the user with his environment stands out. Natural processes and designs serve as an aplicable example to solve architectural problems, using all kind of innovative strategies."
How does biomimicry shows up in architecture?
Within architecture there are different philosophies and styles that are inspired by specific ideas, for example: man, nature, symbolism, formo or function. Each way of proceeding aims to generate architectural and aesthetic proposals, with the means, resources and priorities that represent each of them.
But… What is Biomimicry?
Biomimicry is a philosophy closely related to sustainable design; It is based on the processes and structures that we find in nature and, from the study of its functioning and structures, it is possible to understand how natural systems perform, so that in addition to using them as an aesthetic inspiration, they can be applied and solved problems in architectural projects, obtaining a fusion of natural design with human innovation.
“Instead of thinking of the building as a machine for living, biomimetics asks the architect to think of a building as a living being for a living being” (Benyus,1997).
How does Biomimicry works?
The operating and performance criteria of nature make everything work in a structured and harmonious way. A good example is a honeycomb, with its hexagonal modules that allow the optimization of space and construction material; another example is the structures of the nests of birds, light, efficient and resistant.
Biomimetics takes these cases as inspiration, using their compositions as a model. It seeks the fusion between functionality and design making a special emphasis in the structures, materials and facilities. Biomimicry uses biology as a bridge to nature.
Biomimicry and Sustainability
Sustainability appears in biomimetics with the aim of reducing environmental degradation and waste generation, optimizing natural resources in human activity. Thanks to this it is possible to integrate man with nature, the project with the immediate environment, and the coexistence of both, being in healthy, diverse and sustainable conditions.
The incorporation of natural materials in modern construction processes makes sustainability and biomimetics go hand in hand, managing to evaluate and optimize the complete life cycle of a construction.
Comparative: Crystallized Mineral and Ibiza Tower (Capital Saint Peter)
Biomimicry in Cafeína Design
The projects designed at Cafeína Design carry this sense of care and responsibility with nature and the user's relationship with their environment, giving innovative proposals in materials and aesthetic designs, always visualizing the life cycles of long-term projects.
For example, if we consider the philosophy of biomimetics, the “Capital Saint Peter” project that was developed at Cafeína Design, represents the growth of crystallized stone prisms in nature.
Its structure, formation and vertical growth stand out and emerge within an unexpected context. Also the structure of the project, it is a reflection of the natural form of growth and solidity that these minerals present.
Conclusion
Nature has much to offer us as a basis of inspiration for the creation of new structures and functional designs within architecture, providing a harmonious aesthetic. Nature's processes are efficient and regenerative, they do not generate waste or pollutants, if we learn from them we can create materials and constructions with less negative impact and healthier.
It is important to combine this knowledge about nature, with technology, to offer an improvement in the projects and ensure that the buildings are integrated with the natural context.
Want to know more about this topic? Contact us
