Table Of ContentBiomimetics for Architecture & Design
Göran Pohl · Werner Nachtigall
Biomimetics for Architecture
& Design
Nature—Analogies—Technology
1 3
Göran Pohl Werner Nachtigall
Stuttgart Scheid
Germany Germany
“The photography on the cover page is courtesy of Alfred Wegener Institut (AWI), Bremerhav-
en; Claus Kiefer, Becker & Bredel, Saarbrücken; and Göran Pohl, Pohlarchitekten, Stuttgart”
ISBN 978-3-319-19119-5 ISBN 978-3-319-19120-1 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-19120-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015943315
Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
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Preface
From the foreword to the 1st edition:
It should be stated in advance: This is not a book that directly enables one to build and
construct. It is a book that broadens the horizon.
Building biomimetics is a field of biomimetics. The classical definition states:
Biomimetics as scientific discipline concerns itself systematically with the technical
implementation and application of structural systems, processes, and development
principles of biological systems.
Building biomimetics would then be correspondingly classified under the subject
area of “structural biomimetics,” or also possibly under “process biomimetics.”
There are, however, some points to consider.
First, one must be cautious when translating inspirations from the living world
to the world of technology and should not expect the impossible; a direct copy
never leads to the goal. However, when the architect or engineer grasps a fundamen-
tal idea from nature—for example, the environmentally neutral, thermoregulating
v
vi Preface
ventilation systems using solar effects, as practiced by termites, for example—these
inspirations can contribute to bolder technological–biological adaptations of these
aspects and their biomimetic applications in the engineering sciences. No more,
but certainly no less. One must understand that nature presents no blueprints for its
structures, and its processes are not always simple to appreciate, let alone to imple-
ment. Nonetheless, they are available for our observation.
Second, this book would like making inroads into analog research. The previ-
ously mentioned ventilation systems of termites and those systems of technology
are analogous systems. Such systems can always be principally developed in two
manners. Either nature actually provides the driving stimulus for the development
of a certain technology, in which case the technical structures develop further under
the umbrella of the engineering science disciplines. Or the development of the tech-
nology occurs without the knowledge of the biological nature to such structures. In
this case, one establishes a posteriori a functional similarity, establishes analogous
structures. On this basis of comparison, nature can be better reconstructed and more
subtly observed.
With the application of technical know-how, natural structures can often be
much better understood than without such cutting-edge sciences.
The final consideration was an essential reason for the composing of this book. It
would not have been written in vain, even if it merely inspires awe in the structures
of nature. This inspiration keeps the technological spirit alive for the linking of tech-
nology and nature, a link which could be much stronger than is customary today.
And without nature always being at the forefront, alone from the understanding that
nature and technology must not necessarily be alien to one another.
Foreword to the 2nd edition
The first edition, published only in the German language, was well received and
quickly out of stock. It contained the perspective of Werner Nachtigall as subject
biologist with a major interest and a certain fundamental knowledge of the concerns
of building and design. As a structural biology-oriented text, the first edition con-
tained an illustrated collection of biological precedents.
In the meantime, the extensive book by N. W., “Biological Design—Systematic
Catalogue for Biomimetic Design” appeared with Springer Publishers, which inte-
grated this collection of illustrations. The newly freed pages allowed the possibil-
ity of a completely new orientation for the 2nd edition: Alongside the biological
fundamentals, which a biologist can describe, the book would now also contain
illustrations for practical applications of building and design, a task for which an
architect is better suited. Both of the composers endeavored to develop a sound and
encompassing work, without raising the claim to comprehensiveness. A series of
technological analogs, which had been only briefly covered in the biological sec-
tions, were grasped once again in the technological chapters and more extensively
represented with structural physics and architectural aspects.
The authors coordinated closely on this book and intensively discussed how a
new edition could be structured using the basis of the 1st edition. It appeared im-
portant to intensify the viewpoint of the architect Göran Pohl and incorporate cur-
rent examples of biomimetics for buildings in particular. Furthermore, important
Preface vii
changes in relation to definitions and standards in biomimetics had occurred during
the contributions of G.P. with the VDI. In this regard, this present work is a—hope-
fully perceived as successful by the reader—coproduction of the biologist W.N.
with the architect G.P.
The following chapters are the writings by the individual authors: Sections au-
thored by W.N. are Sect. 1.2 Historical and Functional Analogies to Sect. 2.1.5
Panel Structures; Chap. 4 Natural Functions and Processes as Prototypes for Build-
ings; Chap. 5 Biological Support and Envelope Structures and their Counterparts in
Buildings; Chap. 7 Brief Information to Biological Structures. Sections authored by
G.P. are Sect. 1.1 The Term “Biomimetics”; Sect. 2.1.6 Structures of Folds; Chap. 3
Biomimetics for Buildings; Sect. 4.5.4 Example for Ventilation and Air Condition-
ing: Incorporation of Biomimetic Inspirations in the Structural-Architectural Plan-
ning Process; Sect. 5.6.4 Tensegrity—Connecting the Systems of Tensegrity and
Pneu; Sect. 5.8 Moving Structures, Chap. 6 Products and Architecture—Examples
of Biomimetics for Buildings.
This new edition should offer reliable information to architects, engineers, de-
signers, and urban planners, as well as to teachers and students in all of the stated
subject areas, and—possibly—also offer a certain reading enjoyment.
The architectural and engineering aspects of biomimetics have been far more
distinctly developed in recent times than the biological aspects. That will certainly
be strengthened in the future, and is good so. Biology serves as the initial basis
for comparison and understanding of biomimetic principles; biomimetics for the
built environment will then work its way into the actual practice and realization of
future architectural and urban designs. Therefore, it only appears sensible to place
the further development of this book primarily in the hands of professionals and
practitioners of the architecture field. For this reason, we have changed the order of
authors from the previous German edition of this book.
Acknowledgement
Many thanks to Sam Wesselman, who undertook the translation of this work from
German into English.
ix
Contents
1 T echnical Biology and Biomimetics .......................................................... 1
1.1 T he Term “Biomimetics” .................................................................... 1
1.2 Historical and Functional Analogies ................................................... 2
1.3 T he Form–Function Problem .............................................................. 3
1.4 Biomimetics and Optimization ........................................................... 3
1.5 From Accidental Discoveries to the Entry into the Market ................. 4
1.6 Nature and Technology—Antagonistic? ............................................. 4
1.7 Classical Definitions of Biomimetics .................................................. 5
1.8 Biomimetic Disciplines ....................................................................... 6
1.9 Biomimetics for Architecture and Design: Basic Aspects .................. 7
1.10 Nature and Technology as Continuum ................................................ 8
2 Buildings, Architecture, and Biomimetics ............................................... 9
2.1 T echnical Biology and Biomimetics of Building
and Load-Bearing Structures ............................................................... 10
2.1.1 Dome-Forming Node-and-Rod Structures .............................. 10
2.1.2 Special Forms of Spatial Node-and-Rod Structures ............... 11
2.1.3 Self-supporting Structures (“Tensegrity Structures”) ............. 13
2.1.4 Orthogonal Lattice Structures ................................................. 14
2.1.5 Panel Structures ....................................................................... 16
2.1.6 Fold Structures ........................................................................ 18
2.1.7 Honeycombs of the Honeybee—Still Somewhat Puzzling ..... 20
2.1.8 Do Tensegrity Structures have a Fundamental
Cytomechanical Meaning? ...................................................... 22
3 Biomimetics for Buildings ......................................................................... 25
3.1 Architecture and Biomimetics from the View
of Architects, Engineers, and Designers .............................................. 26
3.2 Historical Background and the Origins of Building ........................... 28
3.3 Definitions and Methods of Biomimetics for Buildings ..................... 29
3.3.1 Definitions from the VDI ........................................................ 29
3.3.2 Methods of Biomimetics ......................................................... 30
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xii Contents
3.3.3 Biology Push and Technology Pull as Methods
of Biomimetics ........................................................................ 30
3.3.4 Pool Research as Method of the Biomimetic
Process for Architects, Civil Engineers, and
Industrial Designers ................................................................ 31
3.3.5 Evolutionary Light Structure Engineering (ELiSE) ................ 32
3.3.6 T echnical Biology, According to the Definition of VDI ......... 34
3.4 Building Biomimetics ......................................................................... 34
3.5 Classification of Building Biomimetics .............................................. 34
3.5.1 Similar to Nature: Buildings as Sculptures Similar
in Appearance to Nature .......................................................... 35
3.5.2 Nature Analog: Building Methods Analogous to Nature ........ 37
3.5.3 Nature-Integrative: Biomimetic Principles as
Components of Architecture ................................................... 38
3.6 Potentials of Building Biomimetics .................................................... 39
3.6.1 Demands of Modern Buildings: Modern
Architecture with the Use of Biomimetic Insights .................. 39
3.6.2 Potentials of Nature-Integrating Building Techniques ............ 43
3.6.3 Evolving Design and Evolutionary Urban Planning ............... 48
3.7 Methods and Approaches Related to Building Biomimetics .............. 50
3.7.1 Scionic®: Industrial Design and Biomimetics ........................ 50
3.7.2 Methods of Structure Optimization and Self-Organization .... 51
4 Natural Functions and Processes as Prototypes for Buildings............... 53
4.1 Polar Bears and Alpine Plants: Transparent Insulation Materials ....... 53
4.1.1 Polar Bear Fur as Solar-Driven Heat Pump
and Transparent Insulation Material........................................ 53
4.1.2 T ransparent Insulation Materials in Technology ..................... 59
4.2 T ermite and Ant Structures: Solar Air Conditioning ........................... 61
4.2.1 Climate Control in Enclosed Termite and Ant Structures ....... 61
4.2.2 Solar Chimneys in Termite Structures and Buildings ............. 64
4.2.3 T he Termite Principle for Buildings ........................................ 66
4.3 Mud and Earth: Ancient Materials ...................................................... 68
4.3.1 Clay and Mortar Nests ............................................................ 68
4.3.2 Construction with Adobe......................................................... 69
4.3.3 Earthen Materials and Dwelling in Earthen Structures ........... 78
4.4 Building with Reeds and Bamboo: Rediscovered Traditions ............. 81
4.4.1 Ancient Reed Structures .......................................................... 81
4.4.2 Bamboo as Modern Building Material .................................... 81
4.5 Incorporation of Wind Power: Animal Structures
and Ancient Building Cultures as Analogies ....................................... 82
4.5.1 Use of the Bernoulli Principle in Animal Structures
and Buildings .......................................................................... 83
4.5.2 Climate-Suitable Building Methods in Ancient
and Modern Cultures ............................................................... 92
