Prof Derek Clements-Croome - Sustainable architecture

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE :

LESSONS FROM NATURE

XVII Mexican Conference on Structural Engineering and Sustainable Development

Leon , November 5th and University of Mexico November 8th 2010

Professor Derek Clements –CroomeSchool of Construction Management & Engineering

www.derekcroome.comwww.rdg.ac.uk/ib

http://www.rdg.ac.uk/ib

Lessons from NatureL’architecte du futur construira en imitant la nature parce que c’est la plus rationnelle, durable et économique des méthodes --- Gaudi

Although human ingenuity makes various inventions it will never discover inventions more beautiful, appropriate and more direct than in Nature because in her nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.--- Leonardo da Vinci

The engineering skill that goes into a beaver dam rivals the elegant calculations that built Pyramids and the Panama Canal -- Gould and Gould ( 2007)

Characteristics of Nature runs on sunlight; uses only the energy it needs; fits form to function; recycles; rewards cooperation; banks on diversity; demands local expertise; realises the power of limits.

Benyus (2002)

Biomimetics

The abstraction of good design from Nature

Functional Biomimetics

Capture functional attributes of living organisms and

Converts them into to technological solutions

Julian F.V. Vincent

Construction Methods

Sculpting Piling up Moulding Rolling and folding Sticking together Weaving and sewing

Much of our aesthetic is derived from an organic and fluid language that you find in Nature.

It involves complex, three dimensional geometries but there is always a rigorous logic behind them.

Science and Nature

Scientists aspire to replace many of the essential features of photosynthesis---- the process by which plants use sunlight to produce oxygen and organic molecules.

Royal Society of Chemistry, Harnessing Light: Solar Energy for a Low Carbon Future,

The Artificial Leaf

Research groups are now trying to create artificial leafs by using ruthenium and manganese complexes to try and mimic natural processes.

An Artificial Leaf would split water to produce oxygen and hydrogen, use hydrogen either as a fuel or to reduce carbon dioxide to produce organic fuels.

Royal Society of Chemistry, Harnessing Light: Solar Energy for a Low Carbon Future,2008

The Physical Worlds of Plants and Animals

Gravity movement, growth

Fluid flows air, water, blood

Surface tension wetting, moving on

water surface Friction

joints, burrowing

Adhesion gecko, flies

Impact fighting, feeding

Temperature heating, cooling

Gas transfer breathing, respiration

Dr Richard Bonser , What is Biomimetics ? 2008

Biomimetics, Design and Intelligent Buildings

BOTH ORGANISMS AND BUILDINGS HAVE TO SURVIVE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS

ADAPTATION (Shape, Materials, Structures,…),MODULATION

SENSING, ACTUATION (Passive, Active) INTELLIGENCE (Choices, Responses) ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Jeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

Biomimetics Design and Architecture

FINDING HOW BIOLOGY SOLVES THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS

MATERIALS/STRUCTURES → FIBRES/COMPOSITES

SENSING, ACTUATION → INTEGRATION

INTELLIGENCE (Responses) → SENSORY SYSTEM

ENERGY MANAGEMENT → METABOLISM

Based on Jeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

smart materials and structures (sensing, actuation)

Functionality level

Molecular

Application field

medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials science (self-assembly), surfaces

Cell / tissuematerials science, textiles, fibrous composites, engineering structures, surfaces, architecture

Organ

Organism

composites and engineering structures, smart materials and structures, architecture

Influences of Biomimetics


Control internal environment

Adapt to changes in environment

Adaptive passive solutions – no computing power involved but no choice

Active solutions – needs computing power but can provide choice

Sensing and Actuation to

SignallingRegulation

Transduction Response

Smart / Adaptive (no choice)

Intelligent (choice)

The sensing function proper is carried out by living cells but often the hierarchical organisation of the materials and structures can amplify signals (vibration, temperature, deformation, etc.)


Energy input

Highly Integrated Hardware-Software Systems

Most biological sensors can achieve sensitivities comparable to thermal noise (~ 10-21W/s) and detect energies typical of single quanta

Chemical (most animals and some plants)

Vibration (spiders, scorpions, insects, crocodiles)

Infrared (beetles, snakes)

Fluid-flow (various insects, crustaceans)

Strain (insects, arthropods)

Pressure (fish)

Touch (most animals and some plants)

Electrical (fish)

Magnetic (fish, birds)

Electromagnetic (vision, most animals)Jeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

Biomimetics Offers Many Types of Sensors

Insects, Spiders and Crustaceans - sensory information from

• strains in the exoskeleton (campaniform sensors)

• infrared detectors (modified campaniform)

• air flow and pressure detectors (hair sensors)

• vibration detectors (slits & lyriform sensors)


Some Applications

Hearing prosthetic devices

Low-mass, small dimensions vibration sensors accelerometers, damage detectors (AE),

seismographs

Low mass, small dimensions fluid-flow sensors aero-elastic tailoring, smart wings,….


Intelligent Buildings for People

A multi sensory experience Must be healthy and sustainable Interact with environment (external,

internal) Light Heat Air Humidity Occupants control

What Do We Expect from an Intelligent Building?

Carry structural loads (external, internal)

Provide shelter

Interact with environment (external, internal)

Control internal environment (sensing, actuation)

Adapt to changes in environment (sensing, actuation)

Integration of functions


Structural Loads and Shelter

Are the materials we use the best ones for the job ?

Can you build a 2km high building with existing materials?

What would be the challenges ? And the advantages?

Existing construction materials are probably not suitable

not enough strength and stiffness

too high a density

not particularly good for implementing functional integration

Animals and Plants have evolved various strategies for dealing with these problems (thermal insulation, cooling – radiating surfaces, blood flow), light interception (plants)

In addition, plants are unique in being able to convert solar power into integrated functionality

Except for colonies (ants, bees, termites, …) the individual organism is the sole occupant of his “building”


We would like the intelligent buildings of the future generation to open its windows like eyelids to the dawn

Aldersey-Williams

Back to the Nature in the Urban Jungle, The Times, 26.8.2010 p.16

Nature has always been architecture’s chief muse. The earliest Greek temples, made at first, from tree trunks, gradually honed into the ancient architectural orders, were an early attempt at reconciling Nature and man in architectural form.


Form/shape biomimetics

Capture the aesthetic attributes of biological structures and introduce them into man-made artifacts


The Fish (Peix) at Via OlimpicaBarcelona 1989-1992 by Ghery

H. Alderney-William , Zoomorphic 2004, (Lawrence King)

Frank Gehry’s fish represent s “freedom” and structural fluidity

H. Alderney-William , Zoomorphic 2004, (Lawrence King)

Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA, 1994-2001 by Santiago Calatrava is like a Bird

Auditorium Parco della Musica

Rome Italy

1994-2002 by

Renzo Piano

like a Beetle

Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre by Norman Foster like an Armadillo

Organic Architecture

Organic architecture promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design. Sympathetic and integrated into its site so that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition.

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater

Green Roofs

Dandelion House by Terunobu Fujimori 1995

Patterns in NatureThe Fibonacci numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144………frequently occur in Nature. The seeds of sunflowers and daisies have spiral patterns. Daisies have 21 clockwise and 34 anticlockwise spirals. Similar patterns occur in pine cones and pineapples. Petals number 3 for lilies, buttercups 5, delphiniums 8, marigolds 13, asters 21, daisies 34, 55 or 89 and sunflowers 55, 89 or 144

The head of a daisy shows the spiral arrangement whose numerical relations are Fibonacci numbers

21 clockwise 34 anticlockwise

Powers, A., 1999, Nature in Design, (Conran Octopus), p.34

http://www.lookoutnow.com/animal/daisy.htm#one

Florets of Romanesco broccoli are “self-similar” at all scales: an example of fractal geometry.

Powers, A., 1999, Nature in Design, Conran Octopus, p.39

Patterns in Nature

If you take Fibonacci numbers as successive ratios

8/5, 13/8, 21/13, …….then the ratio values approach the golden number φ=1.618. The golden ratio is φ : 1 which is associated with aesthetics in art and architecture.

Powers, A., 1999, Nature in Design,

(Conran Octopus),

Nature’s Spirals

Nautilus Shell


A storm in the Bering Sea from Nimbus 5 satellite. The largest and smallest forms in Nature reveal the process growth and change.

Nature’s Spirals

The coiled leaf of the thread-leaf sundew and the chameleon's coiled tail show the practical application of good design principles in nature


Nature’s Spirals

An x-ray photograph of the inner chambers of a marine snail shell reveals a “logarithmic” helical spiral. This has been described as a “pyramid coiled round a vertical axis”


Nature’s Spirals

The crystals of cholesteryl acetate seen through high magnification display the extraordinary beauty found in the structure of matter


Geometry of Nature

Examples seen in Gaudi’s work Columns of Teresina School Columns of Sagrada Familia Church Crypt in Guell Estate

(see book on Gaudi by Nonell)

Animal and Human TechnologiesSpider’s webs, devices for catching food;

Spider’s web in detail hardened forms of viscous

thready masses.

Otto –Rasch 2001

Bubble and net formation in a living cell (radiolaria)

http://oceanica.cofc.edu/

We mimic Nature, but have yet to come up with anything to match its technical and aesthetic ingenuity, its ability to adapt to its environment and change over time .Nothing beats a spider's web or for example the human skin.


Examples of Spiders Webs

Foelix 1996

Water Spider constructs underwater oxygen tent used as a hunting lair.

Hancocks, D, 1971, Animals and Architecture, (Hugh Evelyn),

p14

Spider lives in ‘diving bell’

Amoeba Sand Grain House

A single-celled amoeba an organism with no nervous system builds this intricate portable sand grain house

Hansell M, 2007,Built By Animals, Oxford University Press,p59

Birds’ nests: houses for vertebrates, built from local materials

Inside a termite city – three dimensional light construction

Oryx weaverbirds nests, South Africa

Otto –Rasch 2001

Bower birds collect and arrange by size brightly coloured objects with which to lure the females and stimulate a sexual response.

Reed Hut Weather Shetler

More highly developed building technology for woven reed hut.

Primeval House

Dual Purpose Nests

The false flap above the apparent entrance is always closed but has here been opened to reveal the true way into the nest. Such nests are sometimes used after breeding by adult birds for shelter at night.

Hancocks, D, 1971, Animals and Architecture, Hugh Evelyn, p15

The egg storage nest built by penduline tit is one example of protection against predators. The apparent entrance (shown dotted) leads only into an empty pouch.

Hexagonal Bee Cells

Give compact and lightweight construction,for storage ;the developing larvae are fed by worker bees up to 3000 times a day and after six days, having mounted five times, the pupae are sealed into their cells for a further twelve days

Wasps have developed similar structural principles to the bees. With its covering removed a nest shows the layered combs hanging on a fragile network of pillars.


Bees optimise use of material by use of hexagon cells.

Bees also optimise their routes too to save energy.

Can we learn from this for improving traffic management?

Dr N Raine University of London ( Royal Holloway), The Times, October 25th 2010, page 18

Wasps’ Nest: Miniature City Built of Self-made Paper

The beginning of sociality. Female Mischocyttarus Wasps build their cells together so ensuring that the eggs within are never unguarded.

Attenborough, D, 2005,Life in the Undergrowth, BBC Books p.235

American Potter Wasp finishes off her neat mud pot by adding an elegant out-turned rim, the mud of which, is still dark and wet


Survival of Animal and Plants Depends on Sensing to Capture Information from their Physical and Chemical Environments Defence Against Predators Capture of Prey Adaptation Navigation Communication

Biological Sensing extracts“ meaning” from noisy environments


Sense OrgansCrab eyes either enlarge or be reduced.

Having eyes mounted on stalks helps to increase field of view and range.

Light is limited or absent in the deep sea.

Reduction or loss of eyes is common in some deep sea decapods

Giant Red Hermit Crab with large eye stalks . Jeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of ReadingPhoto by Project Oceanica

Insects, Spiders and Crustacean-sensory information from

strains in the exoskeleton (campaniform sensors)

infrared detectors (modified campaniform)

air flow and pressure detectors (hairs) vibration detectors (slits & lyriform

sensors)Jeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

Adult Male Gryllodes Sigillatus Cricket

Example: Sensory filiform hairs of crickets: detection of predators (air flow)

The filiform sensing hairs are located on the cerci (from a few tens in young, up to 1000+ in adults)

cerci

Filiform hair length varies between 100 and 1500 μm

Diameter typically 4-10 μmJeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

MEMS fabricated hair array, produced by MESA at the University of Twente

Fig. 1a Mechanosensor hair array on cercus

Adult male cricket Acheta domesticus

Jeronimidis et at, Customised Intelligent Life-inspired Arrays, The University of Reading

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) System

Longhair sensors for airflow and acoustic measurements also photonics e.g. crickets, gecko


Biomimetic Hair Sensor Arrays - MEMS

(MESA, University of Twente2004)

Sensors connected in parallel

Single layer SU-8 Hairs (470 mm)

Capacitive MEMS Systems

High sensitivity Generator or modulator type (Low power consumption) •Measures displacement •Relative complex read out electronics •Ability for 2 dimensional sensing (directionality)


Cerci organs (about 2mm long) carry about 2000 hair-type sense organs each act as:

air-flow sensorschemical sensorsacceleration sensorsdeformation sensorscontact sensors

WOOD CRICKET (15 mm long)

Integrated Sensing


Seidel 2004

Dangles et al., 2004


Sensory Filiform Hairs of Crickets

SEM of cricket cerci at 257x mag

Prey Localisation in Desert Scorpions – Vibration-based Triangulation


Velcro: George de Mestral, 1948 Seed pods

Galiumaparine(Stickywilly)


Hooks on a piece of Velcro brand fastener

Loops on a piece of Velcro brand fastener

Tiny hooks on a Burdock (Arctium lappa)

hooks (left) and loops (right).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Velcro_hooks.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Velcro_loops.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Arctium_lappa01_detail.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Velcro.jpg

Shark-Skin Effect: Drag Reduction



Frogs Inspire New Super Sticky TapeThe sticky toe pads of tree frogs , lizards and crickets have inspired Indian researchers to create a super glue and an adhesive tape that is both strong and reusable over 25 times.

Dr Animangsu Ghatak, at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and colleagues have made an adhesive tape by running air or oil filled micro channels through a soft, elastic material, making it stickier than conventional glues.

Reuter, Frogs inspire new super sticky tape, 17.10.2007

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Phelsuma_l._laticauda.jpg

Synthetic Gecko is Composed of Millions of Mushroom-shaped Hairs

one metre square of a new super-sticky material inspired by gecko feet could suspend the weight of an average family car

Geckos, Glue and Sticky tape

Scanning electron microscope image of a 1cm2 section of the Gecko-sticky tape.

Spiderman toy hanging from a glass plate, attached using the tape with a contact areaof approximately 0.5cm2.

Bunching of the hairs is a problem that reduces the adhesive properties of the tape.

Pooley, B. Biomimetics: Borrowing from Biology Thenakedscientists.com

Leaf folding in Mimosa pudica

(1-3 secondes)

Shape ChangeStimulus:

mechanical contact

vibration

light

temperature

humidity


Digital-Botanic ArchitectureDollens explores the use of software such as Xfrog to grow building elements using the software’s botanic algorithms. He designs hypothetical structures and building-skins that are realized in digital models, physical stereolithographic models, graphics and animations. For example his 2004 Spiral Bridge (influenced by a seedpod’s spiraling flight and by the biological lattice of the sponge, Euplectella).

Digital Botanic ArchitectureThe idea is not to make buildings look like botanic organisms. It is to interlace Nature and architecture enabling the design of hybridized, biological structures. The overall aim is to create new architectural typologies incorporating natural attributes ordered in performance, materials, mechanics, communications, and form.

Dollens 2009

,

Dollens, 2005,Design Biomimetics: An Inquiry and Proposal for Architecture and Industrial Design

Spiral Bridge based on the sponge Euplectella and the leaves of Tipiana tipu. 2004 by Dennis Dollens and Ignasi Pérez Arnal.

The Podhotel copies leaves and pods from a flower stalk, the leaves being transformed into solar and shading panels and the pods being prefabricated rooms.

Dennis Dollens Grows Architecture: Podhotels and Spiral Bridges,06.05.07 www.treehugger.com

Arizona Pod Hotel

Nettle leaf and (right) graphic extrapolations manipulated into tiling blocks; note veining, circulation texture, and patterns.


Bio-inspired Shape

Roof-supporting “trees” – Stuttgart Airport


The key to functional integration in biology is the use of fibre architectures for designing structures, incorporating sensors and providing actuation

Almond shell studied as a monocoque paneling system with experimentally layered and structurally linked panels allowing air movement.


Rhino/3D Studio MAX drawings: D. Dollens.

Further parametric development of a leaf form (folded as a continuoussurface), create a monocoque facade component generated by ParaCloud. chainmail-like components are load-bearingpanels that also have environmental functions like filtering and house sensor-embeddedmonitoring. panel designs have pockets whereplant, algae, or other biological agents may be

grown in living facades.

Bio Tower by Dollens

Seabed Plumbing SchemeGlobal warming can be halted by plumbing a gigantic array of pipes into the depths of the oceans

The plankton growth would take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and encourage cloud formation so, cool the world and save it from global warming.

Smith L., Scientists propose 'plumbing' method to solve crisis of global warming, The Times Online, 26.09.07

Seabed Plumbing Scheme

Plankton Absorb Carbon

Smith L., Scientists propose 'plumbing' method to solve crisis of global warming, The Times Online, 26.09.07

Excavation of the chambers and highways made by the leafcutter ant (Atta laevigata) in Argentina after the nest had been flooded with 6.7 metric tonnes of cement mixed in 9,000 litres of water.

Hansell M, 2007,Built By Animals, (Oxford University Press),

Leafcutter Ants’ Nest

Cross section of an American termite nest. The nest is ventilated by air cooled by the ground water. Melet 1999

Termites

TERMITES

The dramatic forms of giant white ant hills are a familiar sight over large areas of Northern Australia, occasionally reaching mammoth proportions they lend a surrealistic quality to the landscape.

Hancocks, D, 1971, Animals and Architecture, (Hugh Evelyn), p12

Attenborough, D, 2005,Life in the undergrowth, BBC Books p.222

A queen termite lies in the royal chamber with her consort, the only fertile male in the colony, lying alongside. She is surrounded by workers who collect her eggs and ingest secretions from her body.


Termite nests display a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These structures belong to two different species, and have been built side by side in the African jungle

Blind worker termite adds its little mud pellet to the colony's great construction


Magnetic or Compass termitaries near Darwin , Australia..

Attenborough, D, 2005,Life in the undergrowth, BBC Books p.228

Compass termites in Australia Evolved

orientation of termitary for preferred maximum temperature level of about 320C

Von Frisch 1975

Termitary of Macro-termes subhyalinus at Lake Manyara, National Park Tanzania

Von Frisch 1975

Nest of a termite species (Apicotermes gurgulifex) that uses its own excrement to fashion a harmonious structure. The nest, about 20cm high, lives below ground and is surrounded by an air space. The surface is pierced by ventilation slits, each slit being surrounded by a raised ring.

Von Frisch 1975

Various termitaries with temperature conditions

Longitudinal section through the nest of Macroternes bellicosus from Ivory Coast. Air is circulated by buoyancy

Bio-inspired Function

Architecture inspired by termite nestsJeronimidis, G, 2007, The University of Reading

The Ultima Tower - a Human Termite Nest by Eugene Tsui

Eastgate Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe

Designed to be ventilated and cooled by entirely natural means in 1996

Architect Mick Pearce. Arups

Eastgate Office Building in Harare Zimbabwe inspired by termites nest

TERMES RESEARCHPROJECT at Loughborough University led by Rupert Soar.

MRI scans taken inside mounds. Also see BBC DVD 2005 on Life in the Undergrowth byDavid Attenborough

Benyus in Kellert et al 2008

Biomimetics: Early Examples

Giant Water lilies – Kew Gardens-inspires the rib vaults at Crystal Palace Crystal Palace 1851


The Lotus Effect is the self-cleaning property found with lotus plants' leaves.

Nanotechnologists are developing methods to make paints, roof tiles, fabrics and other surfaces that can stay dry and clean themselves in the same way as the lotus leaf. Usually achieved by treating the surface with a fluorochemical or silicone treatment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_effect

The Lotus Effect

Self-Cleaning Surfaces

)

Microscopic structure and surface chemistry mean surfaces never get wet. Surface roughness and surface tension are basis of system

Coloured water on the Lotusleaf (Nelumbo Nucifera)


Fractal topology of extruded leaf wax

Physical principle = Surface tension affected by wax

Droplet collects particles and clean leaf


The Lotus Effect Water forms droplets on the tips of the epidermal protrusions and collects pollutants, dirt and small insects as it rolls off the leaf.

Pooley, B. Biomimetics: Borrowing from Biology Thenakedscientists.com

Scientists at Bonn University have invented a self-cleaning paint based on the leaves of the lotus plant, which seem clean the minute after a rain shower, their waxy hairs hold the raindrops, absorb dirt, then roll off when they reach critical mass.


BioluminescenceBioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission

Bioluminescent Trees

BIOLUMINESCENT TREES

Fireflies, anglerfish, other

creatures and some mushrooms glow due to bioluminescense

Alberto Estévez’s Bioluminescent Tree

Experiments in bio-illumination with implications for architecture, industrial and environmental design.


Gilder .J, Clements-Croome .D .J, 2010, Bio inspired Intelligent Design for the Future of Buildings

Gilder’s proposed photovoltaic cell over the membrane absorbing sunrays from all directions inprired by Moths Eye

Microscopic view of a schematic membrane with impregnations on its outer surface created for increasing

its exposed surface area.

A virtual analysis of the model for this project showing the encapsulated routings of the heating and cooling network within the base material of the structure.

Gilder .J, Clements-Croome .D .J, 2010, Bio inspired Intelligent Design for the Future of Buildings

Lessons from Nature?

• Lateral Thinking and Creativity

• Inspiration not imitation

• Simple Physics – Smart Engineering Implementation

• Functional Integration – Adaptive Design

Nature can Influence Design

Facet of Nature Architectural Feature

Human femur bone Base of Eiffel Tower

Amazon water lily Vaulting of Crystal Palace

Skeletons of radiolarians Geodesic domes

Byssus threads of mussels Adhesive filaments

Box fish Daimler –Chrysler car

Logarithmic spiral in seashells; cochlea; skin pores Ventilation fans by PAX Scientific

continued

Nature can Influence Design

Facet of Nature Architectural feature

Peacocks; humming birds; butterflies Structural colour (Vukusic 2004)

Maple samara winged seed

Sea sponge filaments (Venus’s flower basket)

Pillar like structures of Moths eye

Cuttlefish

Photosynthesis

Shark skin

Samara House by Frank Lloyd Wright

Light guide

Anti-reflective surface( MARAG film for and solar cells and displays)

Skin cells change colour

Dye sensitised solar cells

Low drag swimming suits

Various Useful Crossovers from Nature

BIOLOGICAL

INSPRIATION

BUILDING

NEEDS

REQUIRED

CHARACTERISTICS

RELATED SMART MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES

INHERENT SMARTY

MATERIALS

ACTIVE ENGINEERING

SYSTEMS

SKIN

Control of Solar radiation through enveloping material

Spectral absorptivity / transmissivity of the skin

Photochromics Amalgramation of two or more of these technologies for a multilateral energy exchange system. Eg photovoltaic cells mounted over Photocromic film

HAIR ON THE

HEAD

The relative position of the screens with respect to the skin

Use on green follage exterior facades and roofs integrated with facade material E.g. creepers grow on mebranes

Louvres and panelling systems with embedded sensors and actuator mechanisms

SWEATING

Control of Interior heat generation Evaporative cooling Earthen and vernacular

architecture materials like moist clay and dung

Invitation of sweating mechanism through walls with capillary mechanism by the use of: Phase change materials Thermoelectrics

BODY FAT

Control of heat loss from core areas (human operational area)

Thermal Conductivity of enveloping material

Phase-change materials used as energy reservoirs.

Thermotropics, Plezoelectrics as sensors for closing mechanism

BLOOD

VESSELS

Energy Delivery HVAC Electrical Plumbing etc

Minimum waste of energy in conversation and also in delivery

Embedded branching analogies delivered from nature such as the branching of a tree and other such tubular systems embedded with in the structural framework E.g. Fibre optics

Engineering piping and ducting within the structural framework of a building by deriving the principles of branching in nature

BLOOMIN

G OF

FLOWERS

Optimisation of

Lighting

Occupancy and lighting requirement sensing

Engineering of smart material technologies for responsive active system,: Photovoltaics Photoelectrics Pyroelectrics

MOTHS

EYE

Absorption of Solar radiation through enveloping material

Highly absorptive material in order to maximum incident radiation from the sun to generate electricity

Photovoltaics Photochromics Electrochromics

Amalagramation of two or more of these technologies for a multilateral energy exchange system. E.g. Photovoltaic cells mounted over a Photochromic film

SPIDERS

WEB

The ability to absorb/drain/direct, moisture from the air (indoor/outdoor) and harvest water

Silky tail-shaped protein fibres which change structure in response to water

Nano-fibres provide a roughly knobby texture

Replicate the architecture of the web to channelize water

TERMITES

Natural ventilation Evaporative cooling though porous membranes

Earthen vernacular architecture material like most clay and dung

Limitation of sweating mechanism through walls with capillary mechanism by the use of: Phase-change materials Thermoelectrics Nano tubes with closing

mechanism

SHARK

SKIN

Low resistance to Winds thus increasing the life of the building and reducing structural stresses

Low Friction Drag Nano technology paints with “dermal denticals” similar to that found on the skin of a shark

INSECTS Optimisation of lighting

Size, location, colour and efficacy

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Electroluminescent Chemoluminescent

paints

Product engineering with Photovoltaic materials generating electric energy for electroluminescent materials would theoretically make zero energy street lighting and ambient lighting possible.

GROWTH

MECHANIS

MS WITHIN

PLANTS

Optimisation of Temperature and Air Quality

Temperature, Humidity and Air Quality sensing. Also occupancy sensing

Systems devised from the engineering of Thermoelectrics Pyroelectrics Biosensor Chemical sensors Optical MEMS.

SPIDER AND

SCORPIONS

Monitoring of Structural Systems

Stress and deformation monitoring Crack monitoringVibration monitoring and control

Fibre-optics Piezoelectrics

Systems devised from the applications of: Electrorheologicals

(ERs) MAgneto rheologicals Shape memory alloys

SELF HEALING

/REPAIR

Health monitoring of facades

Structural and surface integration check and healing

Fibre-optics Piezoelectrics Self healing materials

(Self healing in polymers and fibre-rein forced polymer composites)

Systems devised from the engineering of Shape memory alloys

LOTUS LEAF Surface finishes Self cleaning Heat and

Radiation reflection

Durability

The lotus leaf inspired Nanotechnology in: Self cleaning paints &

finishes Self-cleaning films &

membranes Conductive paints Luminescent paints

PATTERNS IN

NATURE

From following function

Growth-inspired adaptive design algorithm

Shape Memory Alloys Geometric studies of criterion based on minimisation and equalisation of surface stresses

Conclusions

Bio-architectural engineering shows:

Economy of energy and materials as in Nature

Aesthetics Sensor Systems Integrated Solutions


Conclusions: Biological Sensors

High sensitivity Small dimensions, small mass (arrays) Highly integrated hardware-software Vast pool of paradigms for inspiration SIMPLE PHYSICS SMART IMPLEMENTATION


Design biomimetics is a bridge that can connect building design professions on a route to linking designed, environmental, and, eventually, non-toxic materials. Design biomimetics can lead to technological means for visualization, digital fabrication, and, eventually, bioengineering and intelligent systems.

Dennis Dollens Grows Architecture: Podhotels and Spiral Bridges,06.05.07www.treehugger.co

More importantly, design biomimetics can emphasize ways of thinking and designing that bring architecture and industrial design into a process of environmental and biological focus on more responsive, safer buildings

Dennis Dollens Grows Architecture: Podhotels and Spiral Bridges,06.05.07 www.treehugger.com

Lessons from Bees

Form a decision making group of individuals with shared interests

Minimise the leader’s influence Seek diverse solutions Update knowledge through debate Use quorums to gain cohesion,

accuracy and speed

Seeley in Honeybee Democracy 2010 Princeton UP

Lessons from Nature

Although human ingenuity makes various inventions it will never discover inventions more beautiful, appropriate and more direct than in Nature because in her nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.

Leonardo Da Vinci

WHAT WE CALL THE BEGINNING IS OFTEN THE END

AND TO MAKE AN END IS TO MAKE A BEGINNING

THE END IS WHERE WE START FROM

T.S.ELIOT-- FOUR QUARTETS-- LITTLE GIDDING

Prof Derek Clements-Croome - Sustainable architecture

Engineering

nature larchitecte

nature scientists

characteristics of nature

biomimetics design

solar energy

functional biomimetics

nature parce que

structures sensing