1. Green Building Festival
Biomimicry in Building
Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes,
Principal, EcoCité Developments
www.ecocite.ca
2. Outline
Introduction
What is biomimicry?
Why biomimicry?
Biomimic design process
Historical examples
Biomimicry today as it relates to building
Final words
3. EcoCité Developments
We believe,
people should have access to homes that are
energy efficient, have a lower impact on our
environment, have improved indoor air
quality, and are walking distance to parks,
stores and entertainment.
4. EcoCité Developments
We believe,
people enjoy living in interesting spaces,
that are filled natural light, have superior
ventilation, comfortable heating and
cooling, and are easy and inexpensive to
maintain.
5. EcoCité Developments
We believe,
people should be able to feel a connection
with nature, to have a place for a small
garden, spaces inside for plants, trees on the
street and vegetation integrated with the
building.
7. That is to say...
I’m not really an expert in
biomimicry.
But I do find it amazing, inspiring, and filled with
potential.
8. What is Biomimicry?
(bios = life. Mimesis = to imitate)
a new science that studies nature’s best ideas and
then imitates these designs and processes to solve
human problems.
“innovation inspired by nature.”
http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org
16. Why Nature as Inspiration?
1. Nature runs on sunlight
2. Nature uses only the energy it needs
3. Nature fits form to function
4. Nature recycles everything
5. Nature rewards cooperation
6. Nature banks on diversity
7. Nature uses local expertise
8. Nature curbs excesses from within
9. Nature taps the power of limits
38. Nature…
1. … runs on sunlight
2. … uses only the energy it needs
3. … fits form to function
4. … recycles everything
5. … rewards cooperation
6. … banks on diversity
7. … uses local expertise
8. … curbs excesses from within
9. … taps the power of limits
41. Credits
Janine Benyus and her book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
The Biomimicry Guild
The Biomimicry Institute www.biomimicryinstitute.org
Big and Green : Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century Ed: David Gissen
www.n100best.org
www.humanshelter.org Michael Jantzen
The Natural Step Institute
Huston Eubank
PeakEnergy.blogspot.com Biomimicry: Are humans Smarter than Sea Sponges?
Strategy and Business Magazine – Janine Benyus: The Though Leader
MOMA Archives
Building’s imitation of a human body’s thermal behavior: B. Todorovic