One analogy I would think of is the practical matter of waste management. Organisms have a digestive tract that takes toxins out of the body from what was ingested and not useful to the organism. In buildings, this is mirrored not only by toilets and plumbing systems flowing down to collection systems, but by fume hoods in labs, as well as garbage and laundry chutes that stretch between floors to a central collection.
Another analogy would be sun protection and heat management. Animals will typically have thick hides to protect their skin from from UV rays and also to regulate their temperatures. This is mimicked in the built world with physical insulation material. Thicker walls can be used, or classic insulation.
