The biomimetic promise
-
Olga Speck
Abstract
Technical progress in recent centuries has brought enormous prosperity to a part of humankind. Our modern lifestyle is largely based on material wealth. In order to satisfy the corresponding consumption needs, huge quantities of raw materials have to be extracted from the environment. Furthermore, after a short while, consumer goods often turn into waste that pollutes the environment. The search for sustainable solutions with the aim of preserving our environment without having to forgo prosperity is therefore one of the biggest social challenges of the 21st century. By taking a look at nature, we hope for help in this search. Biomimetic products seem to have special qualities, such as resource conservation, environmental compatibility, and sustainability. But is that really true?
Abstract
Technical progress in recent centuries has brought enormous prosperity to a part of humankind. Our modern lifestyle is largely based on material wealth. In order to satisfy the corresponding consumption needs, huge quantities of raw materials have to be extracted from the environment. Furthermore, after a short while, consumer goods often turn into waste that pollutes the environment. The search for sustainable solutions with the aim of preserving our environment without having to forgo prosperity is therefore one of the biggest social challenges of the 21st century. By taking a look at nature, we hope for help in this search. Biomimetic products seem to have special qualities, such as resource conservation, environmental compatibility, and sustainability. But is that really true?
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter 1
- Contents 5
- Preface 6
- Why biomimetics? 8
-
Everything Moves
- Introduction 12
- Plants In Action 14
- Movement Without Joints: (How) Does It Work? 22
- No Joint Ailments: How Plants Move And Inspire Technology 32
- From Pure Research To Biomimetic Products: The Flectofold Facade Shading Device 42
-
Lightweight Versatility: Structure Instead Of Mass
- Introduction 52
- Reliably Withstanding High Loads 54
- Freezing: The Right Way 74
- Nature As Source Of Ideas For Modern Manufacturing Methods 84
- Rosenstein Pavilion: a lightweight concrete shell based on principles of biological structures 92
-
Elegance And Lightness: Bio-Inspired Domes
- Introduction 102
- Building principles and structural design of sea urchins: examples of bio-inspired constructions 104
- Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture 116
- Snails as living 3D printers: free forms for the architecture of tomorrow 126
- Evolutive approaches to explorative design methods in architecture 134
-
Branched Load Support Systems
- Introduction 142
- From plant branchings to technical support structures 144
- New branched loadbearing structures in architecture 153
- The plastid skeleton: a source of ideas in the nano range 163
- Abstracting instead of copying: in search of the formula for success 167
- Functionalist, organic, and biomimetic architecture 172
- The biomimetic promise 180
- Appendix 188
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter 1
- Contents 5
- Preface 6
- Why biomimetics? 8
-
Everything Moves
- Introduction 12
- Plants In Action 14
- Movement Without Joints: (How) Does It Work? 22
- No Joint Ailments: How Plants Move And Inspire Technology 32
- From Pure Research To Biomimetic Products: The Flectofold Facade Shading Device 42
-
Lightweight Versatility: Structure Instead Of Mass
- Introduction 52
- Reliably Withstanding High Loads 54
- Freezing: The Right Way 74
- Nature As Source Of Ideas For Modern Manufacturing Methods 84
- Rosenstein Pavilion: a lightweight concrete shell based on principles of biological structures 92
-
Elegance And Lightness: Bio-Inspired Domes
- Introduction 102
- Building principles and structural design of sea urchins: examples of bio-inspired constructions 104
- Potential applications of segmented shells in architecture 116
- Snails as living 3D printers: free forms for the architecture of tomorrow 126
- Evolutive approaches to explorative design methods in architecture 134
-
Branched Load Support Systems
- Introduction 142
- From plant branchings to technical support structures 144
- New branched loadbearing structures in architecture 153
- The plastid skeleton: a source of ideas in the nano range 163
- Abstracting instead of copying: in search of the formula for success 167
- Functionalist, organic, and biomimetic architecture 172
- The biomimetic promise 180
- Appendix 188
