Ecosystem Biomimicry: a Way to Achieve Thermal Comfort in Architecture

Int. J. Hum. Capital Urban ManageInt. J. .,Hum.1(4): Capital267-278, Urban Autumn Manage 2016., 1(4): 267-278, Autumn 2016 DOI: 10.22034/ijhcum.2016.04.004 ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER Ecosystem Biomimicry: A way to achieve thermal comfort in architecture H. Abaeian*, R. Madani , A. Bahramian Department of Architecture, University of Isfahan Art, Isfahan, Iran Received 19 June 2016; revised 6 August 2016; accepted 26 September 2016; available online 1 October 2016 ABSTRACT: The strategies to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energies in buildings are becoming increasingly important. In the meantime, nature-inspired approaches have emerged as a new strategy to achieve thermal comfort in the interiors. However, the use of these approaches in architecture and buildings requires a proper understanding regarding the features of ecosystems. Although acquiring this knowledge requires a high degree of familiarity with the fields such as biology and environmental science, review of achievements made by the use of these features could facilitate the understanding of ecomimicry processes and thereby contribute to environmental sustainability in buildings. In other words, this paper concerns the relationship between these features and the thermal comfort inside the building. Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The objective of this paper is to use such review to provide an approach to the use of natural features for achieving thermal comfort in the buildings of hot and dry climates. In this review, the successful examples are analyzed to identify and examine the principles that influence the thermal comfort in both building and urban levels. The results show that the three elements of water, wind, sun are the effective natural resources that must be utilized in the design in a way proportional and consistent with the natural features. In addition, functional features of ecosystem can be of value only in the presence of a processual relationship between them. KEYWORDS: Biomimicry; environmental sustainability; Natural ecosystems; Sustainable architecture; Thermal comfort INTRODUCTION Currently, human settlements rely on fossil fuels to study is to identify successful architectural solutions meet heating, transportation and energy needs. This for achieving thermal comfort in hot climates with the reliance is the major cause of pollution and exacerbation use of passive methods; solutions that can adapt to of climate change. Building sector is responsible for problems such as pollution, drought and climate one third of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions (IEA, change in both building and urban levels. To solve 2012). This sector is also involved with lowered quality these problems, architects have developed successful of water, air, soil and human health. In many hot and models inspired by natural ecosystems for accessing dry regions, half or more of the energy consumption is renewable energies (Zari and Storey, 2007). Although for air conditioning. Cooling consumes more energy architects can use many aspects of ecosystems to than heating, so in semi-arid developing countries, assess and explore the methods of building, those there will be a high pressure on energy resources for features that can offer flexibility against climate meeting future demands, unless new measures are changes are far more effective. These features are introduced (Koch-Nielsen, 2013). Therefore, presenting regarded as instruments for optimized use of renewable novel solutions for passive cooling in this climate energies (and therefore optimized design of building) seems necessary. On this basis, the purpose of this and can vary with the environmental conditions (Zari, *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] 2010). Tel.: +9891 3266 5824 But what natural features could be regarded as 267 Int. J. Hum. Capital UrbanH. ManageAbaeian., et1 (al.4): 267-278, Autumn 2016 such? How can these features make conditions inside MATERIALS AND METHODS buildings and urban environment more desirable? And This study first assesses the natural features that most important of all, inspiration from which natural can be used in architecture. Then these features are feature is more effective for achieving the desired studied in specific categories. In the next step, to better thermal comfort? understand these features, the successful examples of To answer these questions, we first assess the use of these features are analyzed. In the end, the features in natural ecosystems and then analyze two relationship between thermal comfort and the manner successful cases to better understand these features. of using of these features is investigated. Considering One way to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel is to that research objective is to present a solution for urban use passive solutions. The use of passive solutions is environments and buildings located in hot and dry also an effective approach for providing high quality regions, one successful example is selected for urban indoor conditions with advantages such as the use of level and the other one is selected for building level. natural energy and abundance of available resources. The study population consists of case examples built Several studies show that sustainable thermal comfort in semi-arid climate, and research objective is pursued in buildings is achieved when the main focus of design by assessing one project dedicated to a single building is on energy-efficiency (Mlecnik et al., 2012). Also, and one project dedicated to an urban space. new studies show that environmental quality of indoors not only affects the convenience of spatial Ecosystem realization but is also a factor for increasing the Ecomimicry mean identification of natural elements efficiency and health of indoor employees (Aries et and features for obtaining the results existing in the al., 2015; Fisk and Rosenfeld, 1997; Singh et al., 2010). nature in the design area (Maglic, 2012). Overall, But matching the features of a passive design with the inspiration from natural ecosystems can be taken in features of a healthy environment seems to be difficult two levels: Functional level (what do they do?) and (Kellert et al., 2011; Graham, 2009). One way to achieve processual level (how they do it?) (Zari, 2012; 2015a). such match is to design using inspirations taking from To better understand the processual level, Table 1 natural ecosystems. Studies suggest that mimicking or indicates a number of ecosystem-inspired architectural taking inspirations from natural ecosystems has a great solutions in this level. This Table can reflect how potential for reducing human-induced destructive processes can be combined for the construction of an effects on natural environment and achieving environment. The use of these solutions can improve environmental sustainability (Zari, 2007; 2010). Many the sustainability of the design (Zari and Storey, 2007; researchers believe that mimicking the ecosystem is an 2010; Reed, 2007; McDonough and Braungart, 2010). integral part of bio mimicry (Benyus, 1997; Vincent et Like processual level, functional level is composed al., 2006), which sometimes has been described with of a series of theoretical goals and concepts, but specific Eco mimicry (Lourenci et al., 2004). methods for achieving these goals can include a wider Testing and using the concepts of natural range of architectural models and tools. Ecomimicry at ecosystems can improve the design and also present functional level allows the designer to know which solutions for other fields. In this context, several aspects of the local area he must comply with so that researchers have attempted to identify and understand the designed structure would be consistent with its the methods of incorporating the ecosystem into surrounding environment (Zari, 2015a; Alcamo et al., architectural design (Bejan, 2000; McHarg, 2010; Kibert 2003; Daily, et al., 2000). et al., 2003; McDonough and Braungart, 2010; Graham, Therefore, mimicry of features of a natural ecosystem 2009; Van der Ryn and Pena, 2002). Also many has two forms: mimicry of general and distinctive ecologists have assessed and analyzed applications features of natural ecosystems (for improving of ecosystems and the use of their functions for human optimality, adaptability, etc.) based on how processes life (Daily et al., 2000; Alcamo, et al., 2003; de Groot, et take place. These features are also called processual al., 2000). features (Zari, 2015b). The second category is the The present study seeks to assess the ecosystemic mimicry of function of the ecosystems. In other words, features that can be used in architecture by analyzing mimicking what a natural ecosystems does (e.g. carbon the successful examples in this regard. adsorption, air purification, power generation, the deal 268 Int. J. Hum. Capital Urban Manage., 1(4): 267-278, Autumn 2016 Table 1: Ecosystem-inspired processual solutions for architectural design of indoors ( Zari, 2010; 2015a) Existing related design Process strategies in ecosystem biomimicry Climate change implications techniques Source energy from current Reduction of GHG emissions 1. Dependent on abundant sunlight, or other Active and passive solar increased energy effectiveness Renewable energies renewable design sources Industrial ecology; Reduced need for mining/ construction growing/production of new ecology; design for materials and energy; reduced Cycle matter and transform

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