Two representatives from Great Lakes Biomimicry lectured on the topic of how biomimicry can be used in relation to architecture and the built environment. The main objective of biomimicry is supporting nature in local ecosystems by learning through the environment which can be applied to architecture. Representative, Carol Thaler, told the story of the Shinkansen Bullet train which was designed off the aerodynamics of a bullet, which was troublesome to the local inhabitants due to the sonic boom that prevailed when the train exited a tunnel, making it uncomfortable to live in the surrounding areas. The designers redesigned the nose of the train so that it could mimic the nose and beak of a king bird, which enhanced the design of the train to not create sonic booms after exiting the tunnels, which therefore made the environment better for the inhabitants who lived in the surrounding areas. This same principle can be used in architecture by modifying buildings to have biometric design elements within the system to enhance the performance of the building.
The process of biometric design focuses on the three components of form, process, and function accomplished with applying the six life principles of design. The first life principle of design is to evolve to survive with nature which includes replicating designs that are successful and accounting for the unexpected when designing a building. The second principle is to adapt to changing conditions which includes incorporating diversity and being able to modify buildings to the surrounding ecosystems. Next principle is to be locally attuned and responsive which includes being conscious of design materials that are sustainable and energy efficient to the building and followed by the principle of using life-friendly chemistry cycles to help break down products into benign composts that can be reused and reincorporated in different aspects to the site; such as, water filtration. The subsequent principle is being resourceful and efficient in materiality and energy consumption by recycling materials, fitting form to function, and using low energy systems that are not intrusive to the environment. Finally, the last principle is integrating development with growth by accounting for how much growth and load constraints that would affect the building.
With these six life design principles, designers can import these strategies into their designs to create a building that can easily sustain the local ecosystems. By using different techniques, designers will be able to create exciting forms that connect to nature, since there is 3.8 billion years of experience from the history of the environment since its creation. These biometric buildings can also be used to transform the energy systems into sustainable systems that use water collection and storage, water filtration, evaporation, temperature and thermal control, and soil quality. All of those systems would be able to sustain the land by recycling energy instead of using energy to create energy. Sustainable systems allow for buildings to achieve more than ever before designed. Overall, the six different life principles are fairly similar to the Living Building Challenge and its seven pedals, which is a system that works well by maximizing environmental usage and therefore using less electrical usage within the building.
In conclusion, designers can use biomimicry within the field of architecture with the six life principles that are design lessons from nature. Within the six different principles, sustainability is the main goal in sustaining the ecosystem of the surrounding environment. Precedents of changing the design of the Shinkansen Bullet train to resemble a king bird’s beak instead of a bullet is one of the many example of how using a biometric design can produce better results for the surrounding environment. Since the earth was created 3.8 billion years ago, designers can use the Life’s Principles since there is so much experience and design principles that can be used and applied for better results in our built environment. Overall, the Life Principles resemble the Living Building Challenge by maximizing sustainability in buildings to the fullest potential, which is something that as designers should be using and applying to design. With 3.8 billion years of experience, biometric design has proven itself as a useful standard to help sustain the land the best way possible and by using these principles in design, it becomes inspiration for what buildings can be.