Biomimicry in the Built Environment SPARC10

Salford Postgraduate Annual Research Conference 2010 BIOMIMICRY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Sourcing Sustainable Design and Engineering Solutions From Nature By Melissa Sterry of NEW FRONTIERS

Why biomimicry? 1. BIODIVERSITY: Creating wildlife inclusive urban habitats to accommodate migrating insect, bird & mammal species. 2. FOOD & WATER SCARCITY: Growing food locally & rain harvesting. 3. CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS: Adapting to hotter summers & heavier downpours. 4. NATURAL RESOURCE DEPLETION: Supply shortages of many building materials. 5. WASTESTREAM RECYCLING: Sewage & rubbish recycling in situ. © Societas Ltd 2010 All Rights Reserved

EMERGING PRINCIPLES IN 21ST CENTURY DESIGN LIVING DESIGN - living materials & structures SYMBIOSIS - interdependent systems CLOSED LOOPS - creating zero waste LIFETIME GUARANTEE - repair & retro-fit MATERIAL MINIMALISM - less is more ORGANIC ORIGINS - as nature intended MICRO-ENERGY - self-powered design HARVESTING - rainwater, natural sunlight MULTI-FUNCTION - multi-tasking design © Societas Ltd 2010 All Rights Reserved

BIOMIMETIC DESIGN #1 Steve Fambro’s Aptera • 300 miles or more to the gallon • Shape minimizes air resistance • 3 wheels minimize drag on the road • Interior and exterior LED lighting • Solar assisted climate control system • Recycled materials • Both electric and plug-in hybrid models • Top speed of 90mph • 0-60 in around 10 seconds • Ample storage - interior large enough to fit a surf board

BIOMIMETIC DESIGN #2 Ross Lovegrove - DNA Staircase • Inspired by DNA and human bone • Made it from fiberglass and unidirectional carbon via bladder molding • High-performance composite manufacturing to produce hollow lightweight form

BIOMIMETIC DESIGN #3 Ross Lovegrove - Solar Trees • Solar-powered urban street lighting •Solar branches follow the sun

BIOMIMETIC DESIGN #4 University of Southampton & Checkmate SeaEnergy’s Anaconda funded by EPSRC 200m long flexible rubber tube filled with seawater, sealed at both ends, sits on ocean surface generating wave energy Each passing wave squeezes the rubber, producing a bulge that ripples down the tube, powering an electric turbine at the end

WHERE NEXT FOR BIOMIMICRY? RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENTS - living materials developed for a wide range of applications URBANATURE - the concrete jungle becomes an urban paradise and bio-diversity inclusive ORGANIC GROWTH - cities become self-sustaining, self- protecting ecological systems CHROMATOPHIC - environment responsive materials that change colour / texture LIGHT FANTASTIC - solar harvesting, light optimized, light responsive ECOUSTIC - acoustic structures, quiet, natural noise © Societas Ltd 2010 All Rights Reserved

Melissa Sterry, NEW FRONTIERS Melissa.Sterry@newfrontiers.uk.com http://newfrontiers.uk.com Twitter @NEW_FRONTIERS "at present there is only a 10% overlap between biology and technology in terms of the mechanisms used” Professor of Biomimentics Julian Vincent © Societas Ltd 2010 All Rights Reserved

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Biomimicry in the Built Environment SPARC10

by Melissa Sterry

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