Inventors, engineers and architects have been referring to nature for inspirations. Architects used to search for structural solution and form possibilities from animal bones, shells or plants. What they have done are rather straight forward and simple, or merely 'copying' from the 'precedent studies'. However the designs from nature do not come in single design paradigm but most of them are well-integrated and interrelated to overcome different design problems in their contexts.
Throughout the years since industrial evolution, mathematicians, physicians, architects, biologists and other different professions have been working independently in their own field and solving problems with their own skill-sets and disciplinary principles. Collaborations between them seemed difficult. However, if we look out into nature, it does not classify its creations into specific categories like we do, yet everything is working in a cycle interfering each other harmonically. Apparently, conventional linear way of problem solving understood by human has created more problems in life instead of improving our world.
In order to discover the real design wisdom from nature, we have to look at our 'case studies' in an overall condition from its evolutionary history as well as the context. As concluded by Robert Full in one of his talks, design secrets are found in:
1. Distributed control to smart part, not all in brain but tuned parts.
2. Use hybrid solutions, integrated & robust.
3. Do not mimic nature, learn from nature and get inspired.
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livingphorm
- by H. Shin
- University College of London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, United Kingdom
- livingphorm is a space dedicated to Shin's advanced architectural studies and research in redefining architecture in this chaotic age. Topics that stimulate Shin are the complex relationship between human/man made creation and the mother nature, the connections between new invention/ conceptual technology and biotech. The study perceives nature as a core for all design principles. Homo-sapiens that live within the nature should not disobey the complexity system therefore architecture which is one of the man-made products that consuming large amount of spaces and resources on planet Earth should be humbled to the nature rules and constraints. The approach is to unlearn from proven failures and redefine architecture in the shifting paradigm in Anthropocene Age and researching on methodologies of 'growing' architecture instead of 'building' architecture which is leading human race to a Dystopia in near future.