Natural organisms have existed for millions of years, adapting and perfecting their systems and designs to optimize for survival. The question we should be asking is: why aren’t we looking to these creatures as teachers instead of as resources. When I think of systems that we find (or should find) in buildings, I think of biomimicry.
ORNILUX Bird Protection Glass:
I think of Arnold Glas, a glass facade designer pulling inspiration from orb-weaving spiders. These spiders utilize a simple yet extremely effective system to deter birds from their precious webs: a UV reflective silk. Birds can see UV and so they easily avoid the spider’s webs - preserving the work of these small crafty architects. Glas developed a UV-reflective patterned glass that balanced transparency for humans and visibility to birds. Innovations like these should exist worldwide, preserving ecosystems (bird populations), yielding great occupant comfort design (minimizing building disruption from bird-window collisions), and taking inspiration from nature.
Eastgate Centre, Harare Zimbabwe:
I think also of the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Eastgate Centre devotes almost no energy towards heating and cooling, maintaining cool temperatures in the summer and warm temperatures in winter. It achieves this by emulating the complex ventilation system inside an African termite mound. Termites feed off of a fungal food source kept in the base of their mound that must remain at exactly 87 degrees F every day. In order to regulate this temperature, the termites build their home to function like a lung. A living, breathing mound channeling air in and out of its tunnel system allows these tiny ingenious craftsmen to survive in the hot African climate. Buildings that act as living systems can be incredibly efficient and more importantly in harmony with their environment. Considering our planet’s current health, bio-inspired designs like these have huge potential for developing built infrastructure able to provide for the next seven generations.