5 Brilliant design Solutions Using Biomimicry
Mother nature really is the ultimate designer, though she does have an unfair advantage. 3.7 million years to be precise.
Animals and organisms produce the most ingenious methods of survival specific to each habitat, and more and more research is conducted so that we can learn from them to pushes technological innovation. To give back, rather than take completely, as nature produces no waste. Everything is recycled, redistributed and restored.
Animals and organisms have an incredible way of adapting to their environment through natural selection. Adapt to survive puts pressure on biology to innovate autonomously, which provides a world full of opportunities on a silver plater for design solutions, efficiency and low waste innovations.
Although biomimicry is not a new idea, Leonardo DaVinci was famous for his highly detailed look into the anatomy of the flight of birds drawings and human body for his inventions.
Mother nature is the teacher, not just the model. This separates biomimicry from other ‘nature inspired designs’, as biomimicry is much more rooted in scientific innovation, rather than nature inspired forms and aesthetics otherwise associated with ‘biophilic’ design.
Here are 5 projects we recently enjoyed learning about that take inspiration from nature to produce technological discoveries.
1 THE STRUCTURAL SPAN OF AMAZONIAN WATER LILIES
Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome
Pier-Luigi Nervi, a structural engineer from Italy was inspired by the giant Amazonian water Lili (Victoria amazonica). The leaves can span up to 3 metres in diameter and are able to maintain a smooth top surface by having radial branching rib-like structures underneath the leaf. Considering the leaf of the Amazonian giant water lily is only a few millimetres thick, it can support the weight of a small child. No wonder it’s a natural wonder of the world.
2 STENOCARA BEETLES CAPTURE WATER FROM THE AIR
This innovative beetle has evolved an ability to capture water in the middle of Namibian desert, out of thin air in the early morning fog by tilting its body into the wind and to collect condensation and water vapour channelled into its mouth.
Infinite Cooling, US
An innovative renewable and environment company specialising in wastewater management and recycling designed a fogg catching system using biomimicry of the Stenocara Beetle. Infinite Cooling’s WaterPanel uses electrodes to ionise air and charge droplets, then collects them by using an electrostatic mesh constructed at the top of the cooling tower exhaust.
3 THE WOOD WIDE WEB OF GREEN BUILDING
Mycelium forms an intricate network of fungal threads below the ground whose function is to pass along nutrients such as nitrogen, carbon, potassium and phosphorus. This is one of the reasons the mycelium network is referred to as the ‘wood wide web’.
Emerging green materials have been popping up in the market recently using mycelium bricks as a low waste sustainable option to convention building blocks. Although some technological developments need to be made in regard to life span and strength of materials, it’s an interesting insight into potential future building methods.
4 SELF HEALING CONCRETE USING BACTERIA
Another emerging material that has caught attention in recent years is self healing concrete using bacillus bacteria. It has the remarkable ability to repair cracks autonomously due to microorganisms impregnated within capsules, which activate when cracks form, producing calcite to fill the gaps.
This innovative technology displays the power of biomimicry, as concrete in its typical form has very low tensile strength. Using nature’s ability to self heal, we are able to take construction to new heights.
5 WHALE…I MEAN WIND TURBINES
I hadn’t known this until researching this blog, but wind turbines were actually developed by taking inspiration on humpback whale fins. Have you ever wondered why the turbine fins are so thin?
Using biomimicry and modelling fins from the humpback whale, the wind turbines are able to reduce drag by 33% and increase lift by 8%, making modern day turbines much more efficient. I suppose being a great big humpback whale requires an efficient use of energy.
BONUS: SYCAMORE TURBINE
I was recently on a family easter egg hunt at Hyde Hall with my little niece, and found a biomimicry easter egg of my own in the process. They have installed a kinetic sycamore seed sculpture in the middle of the park that is almost hypnotic in nature. The way the sycamore tree spins back and forth with the pressure from the wind is different to how wind turbines usually function, it’s almost like it moves in 4D.
