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The Implementation of Nano-Biomimicry for Sustainability in Architecture

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Nanotechnology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century, which has a potentiality to offer sustainable solutions to contemporary architecture and lower building costs. It helps biomimicry (as a way of thinking which is going back to nature for inspiration) to be achieved at new levels, through producing (new materials, devices and robots), that function as the same way as organisms do. Both nanotechnology and biomimicry take their power from nature and could have extraordinary results if implemented in building design, systems and construction. This research is looking at the concept of nano-biomimicry (biomimicry on nano level) and its usage in architecture. The main concern of this research is to arrive to a better understanding of the levels of implementation of nano-biomimicry for sustainability in architecture. The research uses qualitative method and case study approach to analyze and evaluate the levels of implementation of nano-biomimicry in sustainable architecture. It leads to a new understanding of the levels of implementation for nano-biomimicry for achieving sustainability in architecture and considers an expansion of the old categorization into seven categories including form, materials, construction, function, system, computer modelling, and robotic strategies
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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NANO-BIOMIMICRY FOR
SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE
Dr. Wijdan Deyaa Abdul Jalil1, *Hussaen Ali Hasan Kahachi2
1) Lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
2) Lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract: Nanotechnology is one of the key technologies of the 21st century, which has a potentiality to offer
sustainable solutions to contemporary architecture and lower building costs. It helps biomimicry (as a way of
thinking which is going back to nature for inspiration) to be achieved at new levels, through producing (new
materials, devices and robots), that function as the same way as organisms do. Both nanotechnology and
biomimicry take their power from nature and could have extraordinary results if implemented in building design,
systems and construction. This research is looking at the concept of nano-biomimicry (biomimicry on nano
level) and its usage in architecture. The main concern of this research is to arrive to a better understanding of the
levels of implementation of nano-biomimicry for sustainability in architecture. The research uses qualitative
method and case study approach to analyze and evaluate the levels of implementation of nano-biomimicry in
sustainable architecture. It leads to a new understanding of the levels of implementation for nano-biomimicry for
achieving sustainability in architecture and considers an expansion of the old categorization into seven categories
including form, materials, construction, function, system, computer modelling, and robotic strategies.
Keywords: Biomimicry, Nanotechnology, Sustainability, Affordability, Architecture, nano-biomimicry.
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* Corresponding Author: kahhhtchi@gmail.com
Vol. 23, No.03, May 2019
ISSN 2520-0917
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1. Introduction
Nature functions do not produce waste over long time, therefore they are sustainable. Thus,
researchers try to learn and mimic these functions to achieve sustainability. Although, the
concept of learning and mimicking nature is not new, Biomimicry, as an approach of thinking
looking at nature as a source of inspiration, re- emerged recently to imitate natural functions
at more extended levels. The re-emerging attitude of learning from life is inspiring
architecture to find new solutions to achieve sustainability. This in conjunction with the
advances made by nanotechnology, which is the study of the control of matter with atomic
precision, helped in developing materials or devices at Nano-scale which could be widely
used for architectural applications to produce sustainable architecture at Nano level. Although
biomimicry and nanotechnology are not new to building design, construction and system, the
categorization of nano-biomimicry potential in achieving sustainable architecture needs to be
refined and updated if we are to produce sustainable architecture on the grounds of nano-
biomimicry technology.
This research is concerned with understanding the benefits of biomimicry for sustainability
in architecture. Its goal is to re-categories and understand sustainability advantages that could
be achieved through biomimicry on different levels in architecture. In order to answer the
research question, the researchers have laid down a set of objectives and steps to follow:
What is Nanotechnology, Biomimicry, Sustainability, Organic architecture and New
Organic architecture, and what is the relation between them?
What are the levels of applying nanotechnology-biomimicry in architecture to achieve
sustainability from the academic literature?
How and in what levels could nanotechnology-Biomimicry be implemented in
architecture in practice?
2. Research Objectives and Methods
Materials at nano-scale have unique characteristics compared to same materials at micro or
large scale. Most creatures employ these characteristics in their everyday functions and
achieve high sustainability. Although biomimicry is used on macro or large scale to achieve
sustainable architecture, nano-biomimicry is still new and need to be explored especially with
the new technologies of the 21st century that allowed this development. This research is
focusing on the role of nanotechnology for sustainable architectural applications. The main
objective of this research is to analyze the different levels of applying nano-biomimicry in
Architecture. An understanding of the categorization should lead to better understanding of
the potential outcomes of using this technology, thus better building performance overall.
The research uses qualitative methods and case study approach to achieve its goal. It is
arranged into three parts, it starts by giving brief background about bio-based architecture and
defining/discussing important keywords such as Nanotechnology, Biomimicry, Sustainability,
Organic architecture and New Organic architecture, and try to analyze and discuss the
possible relationship between them. Afterwards, the research critically analyze the different
usage of nano-biomimicry in architecture and the levels of usage as categorized in the
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academic literature. Finally, the research will try to examine and analyze the implementation
of nano-biomimicry in practice through a series of case studies.
3. Defining Of Research Keywords
Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology is the science that study the ability to build systems,
devices and materials at atomic precision. The US "National Science and Technology Council"
states “The essence of nanotechnology is the ability to work at the molecular level, atom by
atom, to create large structures with fundamentally new molecular organization" (Mansoori &
Soelaiman, 2005, p. 1). The promise and essence of the nanotechnology is because materials
at the nano scale, nanometer equals 10-9 meter, have properties different from the bulk
materials (Nanotechnology An Introduction for the Standards Community, 2005, pp. 1-2).
Many innovations made by nanotechnology take inspiration from nature. Even though
science concerning about nano scale is often regarded as a part of the future, it is really the
basis for materials and systems in our living and non-living world. We can notice examples
of nanoscience in many organisms, from geckos that can walk on a wall or a ceiling, defying
against gravity, butterflies with different colors, to some insects that glow at night. In nature,
we encounter some outstanding solutions to complex problems in the form of fine structures
at nano scale with functions associated with forms. In recent years, researchers have had
access to new scientific tools to study structures related to functions of nature in depth. This
has further inspired researches in the nanoscience and nanotechnologies. Therefore, in depth,
natural science is the inspiration for nanotechnologies (NANOTECHNOLOGIES Principles,
Applications, Implications and Hands-on Activities: A compendium for educators, 2013).
Biomimicry: biomimicry as a term composed of (bios: which means living things,
mimesis: which means imitation), is a new way of looking at nature, depending not only on
the ability to extract from the nature, but on learning from it (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, &
Ahadian, 2011, p. 75). However, this concept of finding inspiration from nature is not new.
For example, Leonardo Da Vinci’s own sketchbooks were evidence for his designs that were
found in the natural world ( Alawad , 2014, p. 140)
Biomimicry started to appear as the beginnings of 1982, published as concept (Benyus,
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, 1997) in the book titled "Biomimicry:
Innovation Inspired by Nature". It is defined in the book as a "new science that studies
nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to
solve human problems". Biomimicry is inspiring architectural design to find new forms and
functions (Benyus, A good place to settle: Biomimicry, biophila, and the return to nature’s
inspiration to architecture, 2008).
Sustainability: Sustainability is "The development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Adams,
2006), while we could define sustainable architecture as "The creation of buildings for which
only renewable resources are consumed throughout the process of design" (RAIC, 2016).
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4. The Development of Architectural Bio-mimicry Philosophies
Organic architecture:
The expression organic was first brought up in biology, and then it has been borrowed in
architecture and continued for more than half a century. "Organic" can be used about the
structure and skeleton of nature creatures (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, & Ahadian, 2011, p.
78). Organic architecture adopts a design approach inspiring from principles of nature, going
back to local site and cultural connections to produce architecture related to nature (Pourjafar,
Mahmoudinejad, & Ahadian, 2011, p. 79)."Wright" as one of the effective pioneer of 20th
century architecture, created a kind of Organic Architecture by designing non-symmetrical
plans, creating movement, using the environment‘s materials and emerging the architecture
with the nature. However, architectural form was designed without paying attention to the real
function of the design (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, & Ahadian, 2011, p. 79). An example of
the 20th century is the design of Frank Lloyd Wrights for Johnson Wax building (Pawlyn,
2011, p. 4). Organic architect designs a building that is based on organism stylistically or
aesthetically, but it is built or has functions conventionally (Zari, 2014, p. 8). Arciszewski and
Kicinger named this trend of design as "visual Inspiration", which involves only with a
picture of living organisms to create similarity with( Alawad , 2014, p. 141). In summary,
Organic Architecture is concerned in the similarities in appearance with nature forms without
giving any attention to construction, function or system, which make it the weakest in
relationship with providing sustainability.
New organic architecture or Bio-Architecture:
A completely different a way of thinking that takes the idea of biomimicry further and
imitates living materials to design a living object. This approach extend the idea of copying
and merges biology with the architecture (Ofluoglu, 2014, p. 30). New (organic architecture)
connects built design, structure and materials with sources of forms and functions found in
nature, studies the natural principles of animal and human constructions from several different
perspectives (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, & Ahadian, 2011, p. 79).
Biomimicry and sustainability:
Nature has the most optimized organization in terms of form and function, which can
provide designs that are useful and sustainable, enabling architects to appreciate the real value
an application of nature in creating and producing sustainable and efficient buildings (
Alawad , 2014, p. 141). The need to conserve resources makes it necessary for going back to
Nature. Researchers, architects and designers, move this idea to their fields, called as
"Bioneers" and their way of designing called "biomimicry" (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, &
Ahadian, 2011, p. 75), they learns by studying and imitating nature’s forms and functions to
design better sustainable technologies. The question is about the nature mimicking level is
needed to achieve sustainable architecture.
Nanotechnology and Biomimicry:
The implications of nanotechnology in the trend of biomimicry could be called Nano-
biomimicry; it refers to imitation of living creatures nano and macro scale in materials or
structures in addition to processes found in nature (Dumitrescu, 2014). Nano biomimicryThe
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"bio" as from a Greek word means life; while "mimicry" means to copy. Addingnano
narrows the field to the nano scale, from 1 to 100 nanometers." (ANTONESCU, 2014, p. 5).
Many smart materials are made by nanotechnology such as shape-memory materials,
which can remember its shape at a particular temperature after expanding or stretching, piezo-
electric alloys and plastic materials, which can be stretched by changing voltage and also
other materials which can decrease their transparency and colors, or save information, or
translate sound, and light to each other through sensors. (Altun & Örgülü, 2014, p. 6).
Arciszewski & Cornell (2006) argued that Bio-inspiration in design can be used, according to
scale, on several levels including nano, micro, and macro levels. The nano level deals with
individual atoms, the micro-level deals with the system’s components, and the macro-level
deals with the whole engineering system (Arciszewski & Cornell, 2006, p. 34).
5. Examples of using nano-biomimicry materials
Organisms use a variety of materials for different functions. That inspire nanotechnology
engineers to mimic nature, in their use of materials and functions, some are:
Self-Assembly: An organism has the ability to direct its own process of development.
Many self-assembling systems have been developed by nanotechnology which range
from biopolymers to complex DNA structures which could be useful for a wide range of
applications(Zhang, 2002, p. 321).
University of Michigan nano- engineers are working on creating self-assembling robots
that can build themselves into any form required under remote control, it would assemble
modules together with spray able foam (Yeadon Space Eagency New York City, 2015).
Self-Healing: Living organisms can repair their bodies, if damage is incurred.
Researchers at University of Illinois have developed materials at nano scale that can
heal, and regenerate itself (Yeadon Space Eagency New York City, 2015).The
Bombardier beetle's powerful repellent spray, for example, inspired a Swedish company
to design a "micro mist" technology of spraying, which aims to make a neglected carbon
impact (ANTONESCU, 2014, p. 11).
Sensing and Responding: An organism has many levels of feed backing systems of
sensing and responding (Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004)
Researchers at Seoul National University have made a new type of artificial skin from
silicon nanoribbons that can sense strain, pressure, humidity and temperature. The skin,
which contains stretchable multi-electrode arrays, can be used in application of robots
(Yeadon Space Eagency New York City, 2015).
Self-cleaning: The leaves of the lotus flower (Nelumbo) has very high water repellence
which keep it always clean (Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004).
This property of lotus surfaces was studied and mimicked by nano engineers (by using
nano TiO2) to design self-cleaning surfaces that can keep themselves dry and clean
themselves as the lotus leaf dose (ANTONESCU, 2014, p. 3).
Water Collecting: The Stenocara beetle can gather water; it lives in a very hot, dry
desert nature and can survive (Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004).
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Researchers and designers at MIT design surfaces on a concept inspired by the
Stenocara's covering shell using nanomaterials. They have made a surface that can gather
water from the air (ANTONESCU, 2014, p. 11).
Solar Transformations: Many nature creatures act with respond and active behavior to
the sun to maximize their energy needs(Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series,
2004). Solar Botanic is a company "specializes in harvesting the energy from the sun and
wind through nanotechnologies", focuses on energy solar cells, and have designed a
concept called the "Energy Harvesting Trees", that can make use of solar energy from the
sun as well as wind power to produce energy (MB-BigB, 2015).
Materials as Systems: Nature builds their bodies from small to large with a fitness of
function (Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004). (Addington & Schodek,
2005) Nano technology make it possible to produce smart materials which can do the
function as a system as:
1-"Immediacy", which is a real-time acting and responding.
2- "Transiency", which is a responsive to multi environmental state.
3- "Self-actuation", which is material intelligence.
4- "Selectivity", which is a response that can be predictable.
5- "Directness", which is a response locally to the activating state.
Material Recycling: Organisms create their skeletons using materials that can be fully
recycled after their death (Benyus, Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004).
Energy Saving: Nature systems use a minimal energy for their functions (Benyus,
Biomimicry Pop!Tech Lecture Series, 2004).
Above are only few examples of what nature can offer as models to imitate for the
creation of new materials, which are then can be developed by producing nanomaterials and
devices and used into applications for energy photovoltaics, various sensors, water filtration,
thermal or sound insulations and many other products (Dumitrescu, 2014). Architects can use
these applications to improve the sustainability of architecture.
6. Levels of Biomimicry in Architecture:
Benyus (1997) explains the foundation of biomimicry with three aspects of nature:
1- Nature could be a model: where researchers and designers examines the nature’s
models and copy or imitate designs of nature for problem solving.
2- Nature could be a measure: where researchers and designers uses the natural
ecological sustainable balance to measure if the design has benefits.
3- Nature could be a mentor: where researchers and designers follow an approach to
learn from (Benyus, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, 1997, p. 9).
She said that "biomimicry inspires architecture in different levels as biology does in
nature and these levels can be summarized under three categories: (1) form, (2) process, (3)
ecosystem". She argued that good relationship is important between biomimicry research and
production technologies (or architecture technologies) to improve sustainability (Benyus,
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, 1997, p. 19). However, another classification of
biomimicry levels mentioned by Arciszewski as "Bio-inspiration" in Conceptual Design. He
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classified it to three levels: visual, conceptual and computational inspiration, considering its
character. He argued that Visual inspiration in design could be described as the use of pictures
of living creatures or their organs to design similar-looking industrial systems or components.
Conceptual inspiration provides knowledge that improve our understanding of nature,
that could be applied to the design using abstraction. Computational inspiration depends on
the level of computational process, which are inspired by natural mechanisms of evolution
(Arciszewski & Cornell, 2006, p. 37). Biomimicry approach leads to an important question
about "Form or Function" associated with "what are the levels could adopt in design?",
which improve thinking about the patterns, shapes, systems or structures that found in the
natural world and the way these can be translated to industrial design ( Kenny, Desha,
Kumar, & Hargroves, 2012, p. 6). This question make it important to explore levels in more
details to examine the biomimicry level which is make an architecture behaves as near as
possible as nature does.
As shown above, there is a need in the literature to examine more levels of biomimicry
than "form, process, ecosystem", "form and function " or "Conceptual Design". This research
try to suggest an expansion of nano-biomimicry in architecture into seven levels. The new
categorization are based on the main usage of nano-biomimicry in architecture.
7. Nanotechnology and Levels of Biomimicry in Architecture
7.1. Level 1: Form (what dose an architecture look like?).
Advances achieved in the field of microscope technology (enables researcher to discover
new forms at nano scale. This helps to mimic biological forms in order to produce building
solutions with similar properties. Architects got benefits to find new source of inspiration to
imitate at nano scale, for example carbon nano tubes was inspired by Allard Architects to
design the Nano Towers in Dubai. The form created as repetitive grid of hexagonal structure,
while a nano scale carbon tube (Fig. 1) inspires the entire facade of the tower (Vanguarq ,
2015). If the designer, only copy forms discovering at nano scale, this will make the
biomimicry level is the least unless using the other levels of materials, function, etc. as will be
described in the following levels.
Figure 1: The Nano Towers in Dubai By Allard Architecture
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7.2. Level 2: Material (what is an architecture made out of?).
Nature builds structures in a way searching for the least energy's consumption. Natural
creatures chose materials based on function and conformity in harmony with their forms.
They always look for making possible material at lowest amount of resources. Many
examples occurs In the traditional Iranian architecture (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, &
Ahadian, 2011, p. 80). In recent years, Nanotechnology provides necessary materials for
"technology transfer" from nature to engineering.
Many nanomaterials have already been available , and nanoparticles could be added to
traditional materials to produce better nano-composites and have new multifunctional
properties. In addition, it is expected that these materials will greatly improve the function,
durability, and strength of these materials (Altun & Örgülü, 2014). As an example, they have
studied the adhesion abilities of the gecko’s feet to produce nano adhesion that could be used
in many applications (Fig. No.2). They discovered that the surface of a lotus leaf was made up
of a form of nano structure that has the ability to be clean (Fig. No.3), which could be used in
many architectural self-cleaning surfaces.The Manuel Gea Gonzalez (Hospital) project in
Mexico (Fig. No. 4) was built using modules system (Salla, 2014). The building was covered
with TiO2, a nanomaterial that has anti-pollution and smog-eating properties as it help
breaking down pollution particles into less dangerous particles, it can also prevent the growth
of bacteria. Nanotechnology has the potentiality to produce materials mimicking nature with
superior properties that improve mechanical performance, durability and sustainability. An
architecture, if it is designed at this level, will be more sustainable.
Figure 2: 
Figure 3: Lotus leaf
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Figure 4: The Torre de Especialidades facade at the Hospital of Manuel Gea Gonzalez
7.3. Level 3: Construction (how is an architecture built?).
This level is about (how is an architecture built?), it needs a knowledge about the way of
assembling or chemical processing that nature applies to built ( Kenny, Desha, Kumar, &
Hargroves, 2012, p. 7). Some studies concerns about the possibility of an architecture that is
following the concept of self-generating by its own DNA like nature creature's growing,
surviving and even demolishing though using nanotechnology. This lead to develop
sustainable and livable architecture derived from the nature, it is not only concerning of
looking for different, attractive forms; it is about minimizing the needs of environmental
resources. (Altun & Örgülü, 2014).
At this level, the building is built by imitating nature; it passes various life cycles. An
example is the project the Fab Tree Hab design (Fig., No.5), a living structure single-family
home, presents a complicated methodology to grow homes from living local trees. The
method is to allow plants to grow over a computer-designed (CNC) removable plywood
scaffold. Once the plants are grown and stable, the plywood is removed and if needed to be
reused. The inside walls would be conventional materials as clay and plaster (Joachim,
Arbona, & Greden, 2015).
There are few studies on a building that is self-generated like an organism, growing,
surviving and even dying though using the potentiality of biomimicry and nanotechnology.
That may be used by contemporary and future architects to develop sustainable architecture
harmonized with nature to reduce using natural resources (Altun & Örgülü, 2014). This type
of design approach could be named as "New Organic Architecture" based on more interaction
with nature comparing with "Organic Architecture" of the 20th century that is defined before
in the beginning of the research. Construction level of biomimicry not only use nanomaterials,
but gets benefits from the advances made by other technologies available to mimic the growth
process in nature.
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Figure 5: Fab Tree Hab
7.4. Level 4: Function (what is an architecture able to do?).
Advances made by nanotechnology helped Engineers to study and mimic organisms (
BARTHELAT, 2007, p. 2907). Nano engineers and designers tries to produce new
nanomaterials and structures that active with the environment to minimize, re-act, self-heal,
energy-save to produce smart building materials, nanostructured materials for solar energy
conversion and storage, to obtain sustainability just like natural creatures ( Kim, 2014).
Biomimicry at "the level of function" is following the use of nature’s effective functions
such as temperature controlling system, controlling light and providing ventilation, etc. One
approach is to merge responsive materials with other materials that harvest energy from the
sun or other resources to produce mechanical energy to change and reshape the structures into
a wide range of variations of facade patterns. These merging systems generate a new types of
smart materials that can be active with environmental conditions such as reversibly switching.
That could design components with new functions important for various applications ( Kim,
2014).
The advances made by technology, helps designers to develop a way to keep an
architecture that can be naturally cooler by studying the nature principles, solutions is made
by imitating an organism’s physical solutions. An example at this level, based on biomimicry
of form and function is "Waterloo International Terminal", designed by Nicolas Grimshaw &
Partners where glass panels used by imitating a pangolins outer (Fig. No.6) (Ofluoglu, 2014,
p. 33). Nature could introduce models for engineers, for example, copying solar cells from
leaves (Benyus, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, 1997, p. 3) or imitating the
unique texture of lotus leaves (Pourjafar, Mahmoudinejad, & Ahadian, 2011, p. 75). That
leads to many design innovations like paint that enables facades of buildings to be self-
cleaning (Pawlyn, 2011, p. 3), where surfaces can stay dry and clean themselves as this lotus
leaf does ( Alawad , 2014, p. 141). An example of using nano (TiO2), as self-cleaning facade
on the Torre de Especialidades at the Hospital Manuel Gea Gonzalez in Mexico City (Fig.
No.4 and 3), where the modules used in facade contain nano (TiO2), an anti-pollution
technology that is activated by daylight. When stands near pollution sources, "the modules
break down and neutralize NOx (nitrogen oxides), VOCs (volatile organic compounds), SO2"
(eVob, 2015). The building, if designed at this level, will be made from copying material
from nature organisms; a material that imitates skin for example (Zari, 2014, p. 4). The
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building also could be built of new materials that make a good emulation of life, built on
learning from nature or "doing it as nature way" (Benyus, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by
Nature, 1997, p. 2). Architects got benefits for these advances made to look at the living
world for solutions, to imitate organisms that have solved similar solutions (Zari, 2014, p. 2).
Figure 6: Waterloo International Terminal and the idea
7.5. Level 5: System (how does an architecture work?)
Several examples of organic species in nature, alters their own habitats and environments,
due to increase in sustainable cycling and creating good benefits to relationships between
natural creatures. The building imitating of organic species is often termed "animal
architecture", which provide successful examples of sustainable systems to architects (Zari,
2014, p. 6). Mimicking the systems is the most complex level of biomimicry. It is important
to consider that, in nature, nothing exists without relation to the whole. This concept could
move to architecture by creating a sustainable system that works by a group of wide different
companies having the benefits from each other’s. It could work in large or town scale, that
may include the cooperation of energy harvesting, water filtration and wastewater; and merge
services to get benefits from each other's ( Kenny, Desha, Kumar, & Hargroves, 2012, p. 7).
Benyus (2008) mentioned, Biomimicry is not a style of building, nor is a design product. It
is, rather, a design process, a way of finding solutions, which make the designer able to solve
a problem of functions of design, like flexibility, adaptability, the ability to have strength
under tension, wind resistance, sound isolation, cooling, heating, etc., by seeking out a local
nature creatures or ecosystem.
In the light of these words, a whole system should get the advantages of the other levels
to achieve a sustainable environment. It may begin from a micro scale and moves to be
applied to a mega scale like green skyscrapers (Ofluoglu, 2014, p. 34). An example for using
series of systems (with the aid of using nanomaterials and devices), is the design for the
Garden by the Bay in Singapore, which design to be powered by Solar-Powered mega "Super
trees", having two cooled conservatories, the Flower Dome (cool dry biomimicry) and Cloud
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Forest (cool moist biomimicry) (Fig. No.7) (Atelierten, 2015). Biomimicry at this level could
be a result of imitating organism with the aid of advanced building technology or materials to
increase sustainability (Zari, 2014, p. 5). It can be achieved to explore and understand how an
organism connected and behaves in its own local environment. It is possible to understand
this level with observing how natural creature tend to behave in its environmental community
and within minimum use of energy and material. The building works in the same way as a
natural creatures would; form, shape, materials selection, natural ventilation and energy
saving.
An advantage of designing at this level is the cooperation with other levels of
biomimicry. In architecture, it is expected that a series of systems could be used and interact
like biological system as complex relationship (Zari, 2014, p. 4). If building could be
designed to function as nature systems, this would make the potentiality to improve building
sustainable environment (Zari, 2014, p. 8). There is a potential application to achieve multiple
scale to adopt benefit solutions. Indeed, using a "systems thinking" approach with biomimicry
at the system level has the potential for urban solutions ( Kenny, Desha, Kumar, & Hargroves,
2012, p. 9). This level is the best and most complicated level, because biomimicry here is
based on designing architecture that behaves as a nature system, with a balanced biological
system.
Figure 7: Gardens by the bay
7.6. Level 6: Computer modeling (how does an architecture form generating from nature
with the aid of computer modelling?).
Architects use a wide range of design attitudes following nature using biomimicry as
source of inspiration, but with the aid of computer modelling. The methods and using
algorithms of generative modelling using special programmers can be improved by the study
of computational models following natural processes and using their application to
architectural design ( HANAFIN, DATTA , & ROLFE , 2011, p. 176).
With the help of benefits of developed relationships between architecture and
nanotechnology and computer modelling, the new organic forms inspired by nature could be
derived using computational programmers and some of them are produced. Examples of
tree-like façades in architecture, Omotesando building in Tokyo by architect Toyo Ito (Fig.
No.8).
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Figure 8: Omotesando building in Tokyo
7.7. Level 7: The role of robotic strategies in architecture biomimicry.
In the past few years, the use of robots in architecture has taken great steps, due to the
advances achieved in the fields of digitalization, virtualization, and automating. Digital
information is used not only for informing plans, but to create materials that will construct a
building using architectural robots like (3D printers, robotic fabrication) by mimicking nature.
3D printers may help architects in future, to redesign their manufacturing patterns, while
mimicking nature organisms like spiders. That make a potentiality to print large structures,
using advanced concrete or other advanced materials, to provide extra strength where it is
needed and conserve material where it is not, just as nature do (Woolley-Barker, 2013). For
example, the team of "Architectural Association grads" designed on a concept called "Proto
Home", which improve a new way of construction using the strengths of 3-D printing. The
spindly structure designed to imitate, the grow of bones in human (Fig. No.9) (Fastcodesign,
2015). Robotic production applications designed to be applied from micro scale to mega
scale. A new group of researchers, artists , designer and fabricators have begun to use
robotic fabrication technology in architecture. An example is the project, the ICD/ITKE
research pavilions (Fig. No.10), where it has been designed to use glass and carbon fibers
that are woven depending on light steel structure to make each unique panel (Designboom,
2015).
Biomimicry at this level is improved when influenced by biomimetic processes, through
copying material organization strategies which can be found in most natural constructions and
play an important role in their material efficiency.
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Figure 9: A 3-D Printed House That Grows Like Human Bone
Figure 10: The ICD/ITKE research pavilions
8. Conclusions
Nanomaterials and nano-devices may have unique properties. It could be used for self-
cleaning, self-healing, sensing/responding, water collecting, solar transforming and other
uses. It also provides the means to produce materials that function as system, be able to be
recycled, or save energy and more. These new nano products move the old concept of
imitating nature in "Organic Architecture" of the 20th century, which was connected with
visual imitation to further extended levels of relationship with nature. Biomimicry is a new
way of thinking in compliance with nature and considers it as a source of inspiration. The
world have seen rapid breakthroughs in biomimicry research that happened simultaneously
with the advances in nanotechnology. The interaction between these two technologies resulted
in the formation of new methods for achieving sustainability in architecture called nano-
biomimicry. Nano-biomimicry technology, used by organic creatures for centuries, can finally
be implemented to help addressing some key issues facing current and future generations.
The use of nano-biomimicry in architecture to achieve sustainability is one of the main
benefits of this technology in architecture. This research re-characterized the usage of nano-
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biomimicry for sustainable architecture into seven levels: form, materials, construction,
function, system, computer modelling and robotic strategies. The case studies discussed and
analyzed in this research shows these levels in practice. The following table illustrates and
summarizes the different case studies in this research and the levels of nano-biomimicry
implemented in the each of them that could help achieving sustainability.
Table 1: The different case studies discussed and the level of nano-biomimicry implemented
Although, the case studies discussed differ in the levels of implementation for nano-
biomimicry to achieve sustainable architecture, system level is by far the nearest to satisfy
sustainability, because it is dealing with architecture as a whole system as nature do. With the
help of interdisciplinary relationships between architecture, nanotechnology and biomimicry,
a new architectural approach that relates to nature is formed and could be called "new organic
architecture".
The concept of Nano-biomimicry, although huge with many variations, it could lead to
rapid advances in achieving sustainability in architecture and building. Thus, further research
and study is required to highlight the different potentials of this technology in building design,
construction and subsystems. Additionally, this could be a much easier approach to achieve
sustainability in buildings. By using Biomimicry, we are trying to mimic creatures that have
been living in harmony with the nature for millions of years now that we have the technology
to do that on nanoscale through nanotechnology.
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Fab Tree
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Internationa
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Gardens
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Omotesand
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The
ICD/ITKE
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pavilion-2013-14-interview-08-18-2014/
Chapter
This chapter portrays the sustainability and global applications of biomimicry approaches and levels in architecture. The objective of this chapter is to review global examples to draw lessons learned about biomimicry approaches. The chapter also presents a review of biomimicry applications in line with sustainability. It also depicts many examples of biomimetic buildings worldwide along with different levels of application, which are being investigated. Although biomimicry concepts are not widely recognized in the field of architecture, many countries across the globe follow this design approach. As the country’s awareness regarding the environment, nature, and sustainability increases, the biomimetic buildings’ design improves and flourishes. In addition, the ideas formed from the formal or structural functional point of view are presented. A high level of engineering knowledge is essential in order to imitate the designs of nature and apply them to architectural design. Moreover, different global examples of biomimetic architecture were reviewed, assessed, and evaluated. A comparative analysis and evaluation of these buildings were conducted and discussed. Finally, the chapter highlights the reasons and benefits of developing sustainable architecture.KeywordsAdaptive structuresBiomimicryBiomimicry applicationsBiomimicry architectureBiomimicry thinkingBiological systemsBiomimetic buildingsBuilt environmentEcosystemsExamples of global architectural designFuture architectureInnovationInterdisciplinary collaborationLiving objectInspiration from natureStructural efficiencySustainability
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Biphasic scaffolds were created based on mimicking materials design and evaluated to identify certain applications for oral and maxillofacial surgery. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and different amounts of silk fibroin (SF)—0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% (PVA, PVA/1% SF, PVA/3% SF, and PVA/5% SF)—were used to fabricate biphasic scaffolds via the micro-bubble approach before freeze-thawing and freeze-drying. These scaffolds were characterized and their molecular organization and morphology were observed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The performance of the scaffolds was tested in terms of their swelling behavior and mechanical properties. They were cultured with MC3T3E1 osteoblast cells and L929 fibroblast cells. The main biological performance of cell proliferation was analyzed. The molecular organization of the fabricated biphasic scaffolds possessed interaction and mobility properties via the –OH and the amide I, II, and III groups. Their morphology demonstrated pores with fibrils. They showed a high level of performance in terms of swelling, mechanical strength, and cell proliferation. Finally, based on the findings of this research, it can be deduced that PVA/5% SF can provide a suitable biphasic scaffold with high promise for oral and maxillofacial surgery for instance mandibular ridge augmentation and repair of alveolar cleft lip and palate.
Conference Paper
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Reusing or modifying known design concepts cannot meet new challenges facing engineering systems. However, engineers can find inspiration outside their traditional domains in order to develop novel design concepts. The key to progress and knowledge acquisition is found in inspiration from diverse domains. This paper explores abstract knowledge acquisition for use in conceptual design. This is accomplished by considering body armor in nature and that developed in Europe in the last Millennium. The research is conducted in the context of evolution patterns of the Directed Evolution Method, which is briefly described. The focus is on conceptual inspiration. Analysis results of historic and natural body armor evolution are described and two sets of acquired creative design principia from both domains are presented. These principia can be used to stimulate human development of novel design concepts. Creative design principia, combined with human creativity, may lead to revolutionary changes, rather than merely evolutionary steps, in the evolution of engineering systems.
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Visual inspiration is a relatively well-understood and effective approach to sharing and developing creativity. This research project is concerned with how designers can draw inspiration from nature and how nature can affect and help develop creativity and make conceptual design decisions. In particular, the premise of this research project developed from experience and understanding of teaching undergraduate interior design students. The researcher wanted to explore new and innovative approaches to develop and share creativity.
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This report constitutes an introductory report of interest to the standardization community on the advances made in the atomic and molecular nanotechnology regarding the ability to systematically organize and manipulate properties and behaviors of matter at the atomic and molecular levels. Basics of nanotechnology to create functional devices, materials, and systems on the 1–100 nanometer (one-billionth of a meter) length scales are presented. The reasons why nanoscale has become important are presented. We introduce the historical aspects of nanotechnology starting with the famous 1959 lecture by R.P. Feynman. We also suggest naming the nanometer scale the Feynman (φnman) scale due to Feynman's pioneering role (1 Feynman [φ] ≡10−9 meter =10−3 Micron [μ]=10 Angstroms [Å]). We also present some recent inventions and discoveries in atomic and molecular aspects of nanotechnology, as well as ongoing related research and development activities. It is anticipated that the breakthroughs and developments in nanotechnology will be quite frequent in the coming years. A list of the activities underway to standardize the techniques, procedures, and processes being developed in this fast growing field are presented.
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Biomimicry, where flora, fauna or entire ecosystems are emulated as a basis for design, is a growing area of research in the fields of architecture and engineering. This is due to both the fact that it is an inspirational source of possible new innovation and because of the potential it offers as a way to create a more sustainable and even regenerative built environment. The widespread and practical application of biomimicry as a design method remains however largely unrealised. A growing body of international research identifies various obstacles to the employment of biomimicry as an architectural design method. One barrier of particular note is the lack of a clear definition of the various approaches to biomimicry that designers can initially employ. Through a comparative literature review, and an examination of existing biomimetic technologies, this paper elaborates on distinct approaches to biomimetic design that have evolved. A framework for understanding the various forms of biomimicry has been developed, and is used to discuss the distinct advantages and disadvantages inherent in each as a design methodology. It is shown that these varied approaches may lead to different outcomes in terms of overall sustainability or regenerative potential. It is posited that a biomimetic approach to architectural design that incorporates an understanding of ecosystems could become a vehicle for creating a built environment that goes beyond simply sustaining current conditions to a restorative practice where the built environment becomes a vital component in the integration with and regeneration of natural ecosystems.
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Understanding of new materials at the molecular level has become increasingly critical for a new generation of nanomaterials for nanotechnology, namely, the design, synthesis and fabrication of nanodevices at the molecular scale. New technology through molecular self-assembly as a fabrication tool will become tremendously important in the coming decades. Basic engineering principles for microfabrication can be learned by understanding the molecular self-assembly phenomena. Self-assembly phenomenon is ubiquitous in nature. The key elements in molecular self-assembly are chemical complementarity and structural compatibility through noncovalent interactions. We have defined the path to understand these principles. Numerous self-assembling systems have been developed ranging from models to the study of protein folding and protein conformational diseases, to molecular electronics, surface engineering, and nanotechnology. Several distinctive types of self-assembling peptide systems have been developed. Type I, "molecular Lego" forms a hydrogel scaffold for tissue engineering; Type II, "molecular switch" as a molecular actuator; Type III, "molecular hook" and "molecular velcro" for surface engineering; Type IV, peptide nanotubes and nanovesicles, or "molecular capsule" for protein and gene deliveries and Type V, "molecular cavity" for biomineralization. These self-assembling peptide systems are simple, versatile and easy to produce. These self-assembly systems represent a significant advance in the molecular engineering for diverse technological innovations.
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Billions of years of evolution have produced extremely efficient natural materials, which are increasingly becoming a source of inspiration for engineers. Biomimetics-the science of imitating nature-is a growing multidisciplinary field which is now leading to the fabrication of novel materials with remarkable mechanical properties. This article discusses the mechanics of hard biological materials, and more specifically of nacre and bone. These high-performance natural composites are made up of relatively weak components (brittle minerals and soft proteins) arranged in intricate ways to achieve specific combinations of stiffness, strength and toughness (resistance to cracking). Determining which features control the performance of these materials is the first step in biomimetics. These 'key features' can then be implemented into artificial bio-inspired synthetic materials, using innovative techniques such as layer-by-layer assembly or ice-templated crystallization. The most promising approaches, however, are self-assembly and biomineralization because they will enable tight control of structures at the nanoscale. In this 'bottom-up' fabrication, also inspired from nature, molecular structures and crystals are assembled with a little or no external intervention. The resulting materials will offer new combinations of low weight, stiffness and toughness, with added functionalities such as self-healing. Only tight collaborations between engineers, chemists, materials scientists and biologists will make these 'next-generation' materials a reality.
Conference Paper
Can we develop new materials and structures that can sense and respond to the environment to optimize, reconfigure, self-heal to maintain sustainability just like a living organism? My research theme is focused on “bio-inspired design, synthesis, and characterization of adaptive and dynamic materials and architectures” to develop energy-efficient adaptive building materials, nanostructured materials for electrochemical energy conversion and storage, and dynamic surfaces for interfacing biological systems and nanosystems. Keeping this big picture in mind, I have been always looking at the surface of a material or the interfaces of dissimilar materials. It would be impossible to discuss all the details of the projects I have been studying during this short meeting. However, I would be happy to discuss any of the following selected topics at your request at the AIChE meeting: 1. Hydrogel-Actuated Integrated Responsive Systems (HAIRS): Interfacing ‘dynamic’ materials with ‘passive’ structures to create adaptive materials Taking the dynamic and adaptive nature of biological systems as a source of inspiration, I seek to develop sustainable, dynamic, and multi-functional materials that are able to adapt to the changing environment by sensing and responding to stimuli, reconfiguring their structures, and thereby generating new functions. One approach is to combine responsive materials, such as hydrogels, with various nano/microstructures in which the responsive materials harvest energy from the environment and transduce it into mechanical energy to reconfigure and reassemble the structures into a wide range of reversible surface patterns. These hybrid actuation systems generate a new class of adaptive materials that can respond to various environmental cues exhibiting reversibly switching functions important for applications in wetting, adhesive, color change, optics, anti-fouling, catalysis, capture and release, propulsion and transportation, and bio-nano interface. The versatility of this strategy is huge as any given stimulus-response pair can be put together in a variety of configurations to program how forces are synchronized and transferred between them, orchestrating responses that vary over a wide range of patterns on micro and macro scales. The design, synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of such new generation of multi-functional materials based on this strategy, hydrogel-actuated integrated response systems (HAIRS), along with potential applications as adaptive light redirecting and thermal gain regulating building envelopes (e.g. façades, glazings, and roofing systems) for energy-efficient buildings will be presented. 2. Bio-inspired Slippery Ice-repellent Coatings on Aluminum (SLIPS-Al): Wetting and adhesion of ice on a surface Ice repellent coatings on aluminum can have significant impact on the global energy saving and improving safety in many infrastructures, transportation, and cooling systems. Recent efforts for developing ice-phobic surfaces have been mostly devoted to utilize lotus leaf-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces, yet these surfaces fail in high humidity conditions due to water condensation and frost formation and even lead to increased ice adhesion due to a large surface area. I have developed a radically different type of ice repellent coating material based on slippery, liquid-infused porous surfaces, SLIPS, that was previously developed in my group inspired by pitcher plant. SLIPS maintains an ultrasmooth and slippery liquid interface on a porous surface by infusing a water-immiscible liquid into it. I will discuss special advantages of SLIPS-coated aluminum as ice-repellent surfaces: extremely low contact angle hysteresis and ice adhesion strength, highly reduced sliding droplet sizes. I will also present results from icing/deicing experiments demonstrating the SLIPS coating on aluminum (SLIPS-Al) remains essentially ‘ice-free’ while conventional materials accumulate ice. These results indicate that SLIPS-Al is a promising candidate for developing robust anti-icing materials for broad applications even in high humidity, such as refrigeration, aviation, roofs, wires, outdoor signs, wind turbines, where ice can be easily removed by tilting, agitation (e.g. wind or vibrations), or even by a weak shear force. 3. Nanostructure Fabrication Using Conductive Polymers (STEPS and SCREEN): Electrodeposition of materials from solution onto a surface, Nucleation & Growth Sophisticated 3D structures such as arrays of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) nano- and microstructures are of great interest for designing surfaces for applications in energy harvesting and storage, optics, and bio-nano interfaces. However, the difficulty of systematically and conveniently tuning the geometries of these structures significantly limits their design and optimization for specific applications. I have developed a low cost, high-throughput benchtop method that enables a HAR array to be reshaped with nanoscale precision by electrodeposition of conductive polymers. The method—named STEPS (structural transformation by electrodeposition on patterned substrates)—makes it possible to create patterns with proportionally increasing size of original features, to convert isolated HAR features into a closed-cell substrate with a continuous HAR wall, and to transform a simple parent two dimensional HAR array into new three-dimensional patterned structures with tapered, tilted, anisotropic, or overhanging geometries by controlling the deposition conditions. STEPS allowed for the fabrication of substrates with continuous or discrete gradients of nanostructure features, as well as libraries of various patterns, starting from a single master structure. By providing exemplary applications in plasmonics, bacterial patterning, and formation of mechanically reinforced structures, I will show that STEPS enables a wide range of studies of the effect of substrate topography on surface properties leading to optimization of the structures for a specific application. This work identifies solution-based deposition of conductive polymers as a new tool in nanofabrication and allows access to 3D architectures that were previously difficult to fabricate. 4. Mechano-responsive Optical Materials (“Stretch Me”): Mechanics of thin film under small deformation conditions A stiff, thin membrane bonded to a compliant substrate undergoes surface buckling (i.e. wrinkles) when the membrane encounters a compressive load that exceeds the critical strain. The wrinkled patterns arising from these mechanically mismatched interfaces have been studied for mechanically tunable gratings, as well as a metrological tool for measuring the modulus of a thin film. Nevertheless, the dynamic changes in the optical transmittance of these wrinkled materials have not been studied in depth. I have investigated the mechano-responsive optical behavior of uni-axially pre-stretched and oxidized Sylgard 184 membranes and found that these materials undergo reversible transition between a transparent state and two opaque states. I will present detailed correlations between the optical transmittance spectra and the changes in the wrinkle patterns such as pitches, amplitudes, and orientations under given mechanical load, along with an analytical model to describe the observed mechanical behaviors and optical effects. The mechano-responsive and dynamically tunable optical properties of wrinkled elastomers offer numerous potential applications, including instantaneous privacy screens, reversible switching of microstructured patterns, data encryption, shadings and windows for buildings, and mechano-optical sensors, all from a low cost material and inexpensive processing method. 5. Academic Outreach: Teaching the concept of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of a surface I have been closely working with local high school teachers for developing ideas for demonstrations that help K-12 and undergraduate students to understand important scientific concepts. I will discuss a recently developed demonstration entitled “Hydroglyphics” that visualizes the difference between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces in a very exciting and approachable way. It involves placing a shadow mask on an optically clear hydrophobic plastic dish, corona treating the surface with a modified Tesla coil, removing the shadow mask, and visualizing otherwise invisible message or pattern by applying water, thus entitled as hydroglyphics. This demonstration was carried out in public at the Boston Museum of Science during the Nanodays event funded by National Science Foundation (March 31, 2012) and at the USAEF event funded by National Science Foundation (April 27-29, 2012).